CFA deployments to support Canadian wildfires
NL Active Wildfire Dashboard 16/7/24
Victoria will deploy Incident Management Teams and individual specialist personnel to assist with the current fire emergency in Canada, following a request from the Canadian Interagency Fire Centre (CIFFC).
Four deployments will be part of a national resource contribution of more than 100 Australian resources. Five CFA members are being deployed travelling to Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta.
About 9,000 people have been evacuated in northeastern Canada because of raging wildfires, with current figures highlighting 575 active fires, 400 of which are considered out of control.
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan has been monitoring the developing fire situation in the northern hemisphere, particularly Canada, for the past few weeks.
"While those initially deployed from CFA are salaried personnel, I continue discussions with CIFFC and AFAC about the future possibility to include trained volunteers," Jason said.
"This is an incredibly complex diplomatic discussion and will take some time, but we wanted to assure our volunteer members that we continue to seek resolution.
"We know you will join with us in wishing our colleagues a safe journey and deployment as they support this significant northern hemisphere event."
In addition, anticipated worsening fire conditions across the United States may see requests for assistance from Australia.