Ontario firefighters sent to help battle out-of-control Alberta forest blazes

As Alberta battles much than 50 out-of-control wildfires, Ontario has shipped almost 200 firefighters and 2 helicopters retired westbound to thief nan besieged province.

As of Thursday, nan Ontario authorities said it had sent 176 wildland firefighters, on pinch hoses and 2 helicopters, to thief Alberta pinch a increasing number of difficult wood fires.

Across Alberta superior wood fires person forced nan state to scramble planes, helicopters and firefighters to effort and tame fast-moving fires. Evacuations person been ordered successful immoderate places, including a municipality northwest of Calgary and nan upland municipality of Jasper.

A spokesperson for nan Ontario authorities said nan state was moving to negociate its ain wildfires while sharing spare resources pinch different jurisdictions.

“Ontario is simply a globally recognized leader successful wildland occurrence management, pinch highly trained and skilled staff,” they said.

“We proceed to allocate each basal resources to not only protect Ontario’s communities and earthy resources, but besides support different provinces successful their wildland firefighting efforts.”

Alberta Wildfire told Global News it had received thief from Ontario, eastbound Canada and internationally.

A spokesperson said Ontario crews had been deployed to Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche Forest Areas, cautioning nan fluid business meant crews are often redeployed to caller areas.

“Alberta presently has complete 170 progressive wildfires successful nan Forest Protection Area, complete 50 of them burning retired of control,” they said.

“Resource sharing agreements are successful spot to let america to move trained, skilled firefighters wherever they are needed nan astir crossed nan country. We are grateful for nan support from our partners crossed Canada and internationally.”

The crews are not nan first Ontario has sent west. In May 2023, for example, erstwhile wildfires again raged successful Alberta, 40 Ontario-based firefighters were sent to help.

In different seasons — including June past twelvemonth when dense wildfire fume hung complete Toronto — Ontario has besides recovered itself asking for nationalist and world thief pinch its ain fires.