More than 300 fire fighters ready to fight Canadian wildfire
JOBURG – Working on Fire volunteers on a big international mission.
The 301 Working on Fire volunteers and management have safely arrived in Edmonton in Canada to help fight the Fort McMurray wildfire which broke out on 1 May and still rages on.
The firefighters are on an international mission to assist in firefighting efforts currently underway in Northern Alberta.
Spokesperson for Working on Fire, Linton Rensburg said The Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR arrived at 5.30am yesterday, carrying the largest ever deployment of firefighters.
“We are immensely proud of the fact that the international firefighting community has recognised the skills and expertise within Working on Fire to provide essential integrated fire management services at an international level,” said Rensburg.
He added that they are grateful also for the partnership between Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) and for the contribution of Air Canada in flying their firefighters safely to Canada.
This deployment of young men and women firefighters from the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire programme came after the CIFFC requested assistance from South Africa a week ago for help with their wildfire suppression efforts.
Read: Councillor alleges slow response by EMS to warehouse fire
The South Africans left OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on 29 May at 7am and flew to Bridgetown in Barbados for a fuel stopover and crew change. From there it left for Edmonton, Canada and landed safely on 30 May.
On arrival, the group wowed locals with an impromptu song and dance with ululating and whistling, leaving many teary eyed.
The firefighters are being debriefed and will have a rest day today before being deployed on Wednesday, 1 June to the Ford McMurray area.
Read more:
Diepsloot woman perishes in fire
