APA-Pretoria (South Africa) Some 200 elite firefighters from South Africa are expected to leave on Saturday for Canada to help “with firefighting and suppression efforts” in the country’s eastern Alberta province where a series of out-of-control fires have run amok, displacing thousands of people and destroying property.
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said the 200 are part of a 400-strong South African contingency that is being dispatched to Canada at the request of the Canadian Inter-agency Forest Fire Centre.
“The first deployment of 200 firefighters and 15 managers will depart for Canada on a chartered aircraft from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on Saturday,” Creecy said, adding that “the deployment will see the team assist firefighters in Canada for 35 days.”
A second team of 200 firefighters and 13 managers is expected to leave for Canada next week.
Alberta province has so far experienced more than 550 wildfires this season, resulting in significant damage to property and infrastructure, and displacing thousands of people, press reports said.
Evacuation orders have been put in place in many areas of the province.
NM/jn/APA