WoF crew deployed to help fight wildfires in Canada

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment released a statement on Tuesday saying this is the fourth deployment of firefighters to Canada.

In 2016, 301 WoF employees were deployed to that country to fight a massive blaze in Alberta, however, the crew decided to embark on a strike regarding their dissatisfaction with remuneration upon learning that their Canadian counterparts were earning more than they were.

However, with 2016 five years in the past, the Canadian Inter-agency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) requested assistance from Work on Fire to help battle the blazes in the country.

The minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Barbara Creecy, said in the statement that she wished the Working on Fire crew well as they leave to fight fires in Manitoba, Canada.

“I trust that, as in the past, you will fly South Africa’s flag high and that your camaraderie will stand you in good stead as you battle alongside colleagues from other Canadian provinces and cities to save lives and homes,” she said.

She added that the crew of 100 firefighters and a nine-person management team had been chosen following a selection process which included criteria such as physical fitness, having a valid Yellow Card, more than three years actual firefighting experience, a valid South African passport, and additional criteria such as passing a drug test and having a clear criminal record.

Out of the selected firefighters 30 are women and 35 have previous deployment experience to Canada and they will be deployed for a period of 34 days. “Your commitment will serve as an example to members of the Working on Fire team who will be on standby to battle any wildfires that may break out here in South Africa as we near the end of our winter season,” said Creecy.

Canada has been experiencing record-breaking heat and associated dry weather. Large wildland fires are currently burning in Manitoba and extreme fire danger exists across the western provinces with little relief in sight and new wildland fires expected.

A drier than normal spring has contributed to drought conditions persisting across much of western Canada. Due to the number of provinces experiencing high fire dangers, Canada is close to exhausting available wildland fire management resources within the country.

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Prior to their departure these firefighters and management underwent refresher training in Hekpoort, Gauteng to ensure that they are fit and ready for the conditions expected in Canada. Refresher training included map reading, power pumps usage, fire line safety, helicopter safety as well as extensive pre-deployment training on the type of conditions that they can expect in Canada, including the different types of dangerous animals expected.

“We also understand that we are currently amid our 2021 winter fire season. However, as with previous deployments, we want to reassure our partners and stakeholders that this deployment will in no way have an impact on our current firefighting resources in South Africa, where the Working on Fire programme is able to call on close to 5 000 firefighters spread throughout the country,” said Creecy in the statement.

She said the crew are flying to Canada on a British Airways chartered flight which has been arranged by the CIFFC and they will fly to Winnipeg via London. Prior to their departure they will undergo a Covid19 PCR test and once they arrive in Canada, they will also be fully vaccinated.