New Zealand is sending 43 more firefighters to help fight massive wildfires in Canada. They left Auckland on Sunday night and are heading to Manitoba province via Vancouver. They join seven Kiwi fire specialists who arrived in Canada earlier this week.
Right now, there are 105 active wildfires in Manitoba and over 500 across Canada. Around 145 fires are out of control, making this one of the country’s worst wildfire seasons.
Most of the New Zealand group is made up of volunteer firefighters from Fire and Emergency NZ, along with staff from the Department of Conservation, forestry companies, and local councils. They will stay in Canada for five weeks.
Ben Cousins, a rural fire officer with FENZ, said the team expects long, tough days. They will work in remote areas, often camping in tents and digging to stop fires from spreading. The land is swampy and full of tall trees, making the job even harder.
Firefighters will work 14 days straight before getting a short break. Steve Ochsner, who helps with crew readiness, said watching for fatigue will be important to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Despite the large effort, New Zealand’s own fire services will still have enough staff at home. FENZ said the experience gained in Canada will help the team prepare for tougher fires in New Zealand in the future.
Emma Gibb, a national trainer with FENZ, said the team is ready. “Hopefully we can lend a hand,” she said, “and give Canadian firefighters some much-needed rest.”
