Earlier this week, Canada will send 21 fire management staff to New South Wales, Australia, for a deployment of 38 days. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is providing two staff members to join the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) team.

The National Resource Sharing Centre in Melbourne has requested assistance from Canadian wildfire agencies to fight bushfires along the east coast of Australia. 

Canadian fire management staff will be filling operational, planning and aviation roles.

“Saskatchewan is proud to be part of the Canadian contingent that is being sent to support Australia during this devastating fire season,” SPSA President Marlo Pritchard said.

A severe and early fire season in eastern Australia has led to fatalities, property loss and the destruction of large areas of New South Wales and Queensland.

This is the first time Canadian firefighters are being deployed to Australia under the Exchange of Wildland Fire Management Resources agreement.  Canada has called on Australian firefighters four times since 2015.

Saskatchewan is a member of the CIFFC.  When appropriate, Canadian provincial wildfire agencies export firefighting resources at the request of other jurisdictions through mutual aid resource sharing agreements.