The departure is imminent. The Interministerial Crisis Management Operations Centre (COGIC), the crisis management command body for Civil Protection in France, has put its regional headquarters on alert to send a detachment of firefighters to Canada.
2.7 million hectares have already been burnt in Canada since the start of the year – eight times more than the average over the last three decades. According to the Canadian authorities, as of 9.00 pm on Sunday, there were 214 active fires, 93 of which were out of control – a terrifying situation, according to Tim Houston, the Prime Minister.
The authorities fear that the fire-fighting efforts may drag on due to the dry weather and record temperatures expected in the coming days. The Premier said last Wednesday that the province of Nova Scotia was facing an unprecedented crisis and that it would accept any support it could get.
What French reinforcements?
According to information from Forest fires, according to two sources close to the Ministry of the Interior, around a hundred firefighters are due to leave Marseille on Tuesday or Wednesday for a three-week deployment, without any relief crews.
The roles sought include forest fire officers (FDF 5 and FDF 4), team leaders (FDF 3), personnel trained in helicopter-based operations, officers and crew members specialising in tactical firefighting, as well as equipment supervisors (FDF 2) and forest fire crew members (FDF 1). This detachment would also be accompanied by doctors and fire service paramedics.
Furthermore, no vehicles would be sent. Only experienced men and women, with their personal kit and equipment for fighting forest fires.
>> See also : VIDEO. Canada: ‘unprecedented’ wildfires currently raging – footage from eyewitnesses on the ground.
🔴 Fire in Nova Scotia (Canada): 16,000 people evacuated, several homes destroyed… A state of emergency has been declared by the authorities. pic.twitter.com/lrabvcV3sn
— Feux de Forêt (@FeuxdeForet_FR) 30 May 2023