National

Nearly 700 more international firefighters coming to Canada to help battle fires

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Jun, 2023 10:26 AM

Almost 700 firefighters from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are set to arrive in Canada over the next two weeks to help with the unusually severe start to the wildfire season.

There are already more than 500 international firefighters, incident commanders and other workers in Alberta, which has been battling multiple severe fires since early May.

Most of the additional help will also go to Alberta, though some are being sent to Nova Scotia where out-of-control fires have been wreaking havoc since last weekend.

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says the Canada Interagency Forest Fire Centre ensures that crews from across the provinces and from other countries are sent to areas that need the most help.

Blair says this fire season has been unprecedented both for the number of big and uncontained fires this early in the year and the number of provinces affected at the same time.

There are 214 fires burning and 93 of them are out of control, up from 87 out-of-control fires Thursday.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Richmond Resident Scores $5-Million from Lotto 6/49

Yvonne Sinclair matched all six numbers in a draw in early December but says she wasn't in a rush to claim her prize. She now plans to buy a house for her family, take a tropical vacation and help her children with tuition.

Richmond Resident Scores $5-Million from Lotto 6/49

BC Greens push for paid practicums for nursing students

The B-C Greens want the provincial government to create paid practicums for nursing students. Leader Sonia Furstenau says that unlike tradespeople who, justifiably, receive paid apprenticeships and subsidized tools, nurses often come out of school with significant debt.

BC Greens push for paid practicums for nursing students

Canadian diplomat expelled from China in retaliation for similar move by Ottawa

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she would speak Tuesday afternoon with Shanghai consul Jennifer Lynn Lalonde. Joly described her in French as "a very respected career diplomat." Earlier Tuesday, Beijing declared it would expel Lalonde in retaliation for Canada's de sending a Chinese envoy packing.

Canadian diplomat expelled from China in retaliation for similar move by Ottawa

Rare May heat wave brings worries for further floods and fires: emergency minister

Ma says the unusual heat also elevates the risks of wildfires burning in B.C. There are more than 50 fires burning in B.C., most of them in the north and central part of the province, and three wildfires have prompted evacuation orders or alerts for nearby residents.

Rare May heat wave brings worries for further floods and fires: emergency minister

High temperatures in B.C. pose 'threat of new wildfires,' wildfire service warns

Evacuation orders or alerts remain in place for much of the areas surrounding the Red Creek and Boundary Lake fires, about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. In its latest update, the B.C. Wildfire Service reported the Boundary Lake fire was an estimated 5,900 hectares. The fire at Red Creek sits at 2,800 hectares.

High temperatures in B.C. pose 'threat of new wildfires,' wildfire service warns

Victoria police arrest man for multiple break & enters

Police say they received a call on Monday morning about a break-and-enter at a residential development, and arrested the male suspect after a brief search of the building. Police say the suspect is a newcomer to Victoria and had 44 prior contacts with police this year, in addition to having been arrested a dozen times.