Fire and Emergency New Zealand is deploying an additional 43-person taskforce to Manitoba, Canada, today, to bolster the local response to more than 500 actives wildfires currently burning in the region.
“This deployment is in addition to the seven firefighters who left New Zealand on Wednesday. As wildfires continue to burn across Canada it is important that New Zealand supports the firefighting efforts by Canadian crews,” said Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden.
The taskforce consists of an agency representative, two taskforce leaders and eight five-person arduous firefighting crews. Like the specialist team that travelled to the wildfires last week, it is intended that they will be deployed for approximately five weeks, the Minister said.
“I would like to commend all of those being deployed for answering the call of our Canadian colleagues in their time of need, giving up time with their families to do this important work.”
“As well as benefitting the Canadian crews, the deployment is also valuable experience for personnel at Fire and Emergency New Zealand.”
Across Canada there are 518 active wildfires, with 14 new fires breaking out in the last 24 hours.
