Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada will continue to rely on foreign firefighters as wildfires increase: Trudeau

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Jun, 2023 11:06 AM
  • Canada will continue to rely on foreign firefighters as wildfires increase: Trudeau

Canada will continue to rely on foreign crews to help fight wildfires in the coming years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday, as more reinforcements from abroad were expected to join the fight against the country's worst wildfire season in decades.

Trudeau told reporters in Saguenay, Que., that Canada will count on other countries to send help, just as other countries depend on Canadian firefighters.

"In terms of international firefighters, it's something that we count on during our fire seasons, but the same way our international friends and partners count on Canadian firefighters during their fire seasons," he told reporters after meeting with armed forces members at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, in Quebec's Saguenay region. 

"From Northern Hemisphere to Southern Hemisphere, from one region of the world to another, the fire seasons aren't always aligned and that allows for a travelling of resources that is part of how we're going to make sure we're protecting communities all around the world." 

Trudeau said extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent in the coming years due to climate change. When asked if Canada needs to augment its fleet water bombers that are used to fight fires, he said it's clear the country will need to increase resources at many levels.

"There will be more climate emergencies, there will be more major challenges and so we will have to prepare," he said. "And yes, we are talking about planes, but we are also talking about more training for the population, for firefighters, for the military."

Meanwhile, more firefighters from abroad were expected to arrive on Wednesday to help battle Canada’s worst wildfire season of the 21st century.

Quebec officials said about 100 Portuguese and 140 Spanish firefighters were set to land in Quebec City to join the contingents of French and American reinforcements that were already helping battle 130 forest fires raging across the province as of Wednesday morning.

About 5,000 firefighting personnel from multiple countries have been deployed across Canada to help battle the flames, and more were expected to arrive from Chile and Costa Rica in the coming days.

There were 459 fires across Canada on Wednesday morning, with 234 listed as out of control. 

There was hope in Quebec that rainy weather this week would help douse the blazes, but officials said Wednesday morning not enough rain had fallen so far to extinguish the danger. The province's forest fire prevention agency — SOPFEU — said a wildfire continued to threaten the community of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Que., located 620 kilometres northwest of Montreal, where roughly 2,000 people remained displaced. 

Civil security official Jean Savard said 2,800 Quebecers remained under evacuation across the province, down from more than 13,500 late last week.

Rain was also in the forecast for a large portion of Western Canada, along with thunderstorms and a risk of lightning. About 14,000 people remained out of their homes in Alberta as of late Tuesday.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Gun and a jerry can full of gasoline located inside vehicle

Gun and a jerry can full of gasoline located inside vehicle
A 39-year-old man, believed to be the driver, who is known to police was transported to Surrey RCMP cells and held in custody. Investigators confirmed that the vehicle was stolen from Coquitlam in November 2022.  

Gun and a jerry can full of gasoline located inside vehicle

Two teens charged in Prince George drug bust

Two teens charged in Prince George drug bust
Mounties say officers seized a firearm as well as 1.5 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from a home while executing a search warrant last Friday.

Two teens charged in Prince George drug bust

Surrey Drive Thru Arrest

Surrey Drive Thru Arrest
The man allegedly berated drive-thru staff in early February. Mounties say the man was arrested on May 24th and was charged with assault and causing a disturbance.

Surrey Drive Thru Arrest

B.C. giving $4.5 million to upgrade children's hospice facility

B.C. giving $4.5 million to upgrade children's hospice facility
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the funding will go toward structural repairs, enhancing patient care rooms, improving ventilation and making it more accessible. The minister says construction is expected to be complete by 2025.

B.C. giving $4.5 million to upgrade children's hospice facility

2 injured in shooting, 8 arrested: VPD

2 injured in shooting, 8 arrested: VPD
Witnesses called 9-1-1 reporting shots fired near East Hastings and Columbia just before 4:30 p.m. VPD flooded the area and located a victim with gunshot wounds, while several people were seen fleeing the area on foot. Eight people were arrested and have since been released pending further investigation.

2 injured in shooting, 8 arrested: VPD

Greens vouch for free transit for youth

Greens vouch for free transit for youth
B-C Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau says it's time youth up to the age of 18 were allowed to ride free on transit. A statement from Furstenau says the B-C Green caucus wants the New Democrat government to expand free transit to youth.

Greens vouch for free transit for youth