Alberta firefighters help battle Manitoba wildfires
Feature story posted on June 2, 2008
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Close to 30 Alberta firefighters have travelled to Manitoba to help battle wildfires burning in that province.
The highly trained, full-time provincial firefighters have been sent as part of Canada’s Mutual Aid Resource Sharing Agreement. Under the agreement, firefighting agencies from coast to coast share firefighting resources as wildfire hazards and activities allow.
Alberta is an active participant in the agreement, having sent firefighters and equipment to British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Montana in 2007.
“Alberta benefited immensely in previous years from the firefighting resources we received other parts of Canada,” said Anastasia Drummond, wildfire information officer. “Our firefighters are looking forward to lending a helping hand in Manitoba and we wish them a safe and successful deployment.”
Alberta is maintaining sufficient resources to meet its firefighting needs should wildfire activity increase. Fire hazard levels throughout the province are monitored on a daily basis and the crews exported to Manitoba can be called back if the need arises.
