South Africa’s wildland firefighters from the Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture (WOF-Kishugu JV) have returned home after a successful deployment in Alberta, Canada where they assisted in putting out wildfires.
The 216 firefighters from various parts of the country landed at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on Monday where they were received with a warm welcome by the management, dignitaries, and their families.
This marks the sixth deployment of South African firefighters to Canada since 2015, with the 2023 deployment being one of the largest.
“We are happy to welcome them home safely, uninjured and having done a very successful firefighting mission,” said WOF.
According to WOF the South African firefighters worked alongside their counterparts from Canada, Mexico, America and Australia. “Their dedication, skill, and teamwork have made them a stand-out force on the international firefighting front.”
The wildfire firefighters were honoured in a homecoming and recognition ceremony at Kishugu Training Academy, where their “dedication and bravery” during the international fire suppression efforts were celebrated.
“The ceremony highlights their exceptional teamwork, resilience, and the critical role they played in protecting communities and the environment,” said WOF, adding that as a token of appreciation, special awards would be presented to those who demonstrated extraordinary leadership and courage under challenging conditions.
Since 2015, South African firefighters have been deployed to Canada six times under the Canada-South Africa Bilateral Agreement, which facilitates collaboration on environmental issues, including the exchange and provision of firefighting personnel.
The latest deployment builds on the historic one last year, where over 860 firefighters and management were sent to Canada.
To date, the Working on Fire Programme, a key component of South Africa’s Expanded Public Works Programme, has dispatched more than 1 750 firefighters and management to support Canada during its most devastating wildfire seasons.
The Mercury