KZN firefighters head to Canada to tackle wildfires
Forty-nine firefighters from KZN are gearing up to tackle Canada’s wildfires.
The second contingent of 200 firefighters, including 13 managers, landed in Edmonton on Friday.
Canada is currently facing one of its most disastrous fire seasons, with wildfires raging across eight provinces and the Northwest Territories.
Alberta has been the hardest-hit province.
The devastating infernos have been attributed to the country’s hot and dry weather conditions.
The second team will join the Mzanzi 1 Hotshots crew deployed earlier this month, to work alongside Canadian firefighting agencies.
In a statement, the National Working on Fire programme says this is the fifth time South Africa has sent firefighting resources and personnel to Canada.
"The Mzanzi 2 Hotshots team heading to Canada will join the Mzanzi 1 Hotshots team - who were deployed on 3 June 2023 - working alongside Canadian firefighting agencies and local crews to help combat wildfires and protect affected areas. The team has received specialised training in the use of water pumps and pump lines, they meet the Canadian fitness standards, possess valid South African Yellow cards, and each firefighter has three or more years of firefighting experience."
