DURBAN - More than 400 South African Working On Fire (WoF) firefighters have been deployed to the province of Alberta in Canada to assist with stopping wildfires which have been ongoing since March and have affected 11 provinces.
The request for urgent assistance came from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in terms of an existing memorandum of understanding between Canada and South Africa which provides for the exchange of wildland fire management resources.
The wildfires were believed to have been caused by either lightning or accidental human activity. At least 30 000 people have been evacuated from their homes, and smoke emitted from the wildfires has caused air quality alerts and evacuations in the US and Europe.
Some of these firefighters were trained under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPW) in partnership with WoF and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
This is the fifth deployment of a WoF team to Canada, and they will be on duty for 35 days and spend 28 days on the fire line.
The first group of 200 firefighters and 15 managers left South Africa from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on a chartered aircraft on June 6 and they were followed by a second contingent of 200 firefighters and 14 managers on Thursday. Out of these men and women, 49 are from KwaZulu-Natal.
Teams underwent a three-day training exercise at the Kishugu Training Academy in Mbombela, Mpumalanga to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively combat the wildfire conditions in Alberta.
Linton Rensburg, Canadian deployment head and stakeholder relations manager, told the Sunday Tribune that all firefighters needed to be in possession of a valid Yellow Card which allows them to fight fires in South Africa. They also had to pass the Canadian and WoF fitness tests, have a minimum 3 years’ experience and be in possession of a valid passport.
“Canada is experiencing one of their worst fire seasons ever. Our firefighters are trained wildland firefighters and these deployees have been specifically prepared to be familiar with conditions in Canada. They have been trained in the use of Canadian water pumps and water tanks; they have also been extensively prepared around the conditions and what to expect. About 100 of our firefighters have been previously deployed to Canada as well.”
Rensburg explained that the country had just under 5 000 firefighters stationed at 230 bases. In the current winter fire season, there were around 4 000 firefighters who were providing fire prevention and fire suppression services to landowners.
“The feedback we have received is positive from our first group, their spirits are high and they have been deployed to two fires currently about 180km outside Edmonton in the the town of Edson. Their song and dance on their arrival in Edmonton, Alberta, caused a sensation and their video went viral. The song and dance is also done when they go out to the fires,” he said.
The first group is expected back in the country by July 10 while the return date for the second group is July 21.
“For these young men and women, it’s a proud moment for them and their families. It’s a vote of confidence in the success of this the most successful Expanded Public Works programme of government and WoF. These young men and women were previously unemployed youth and today through the training and development in the programme they have been given this huge opportunity to represent their country,” said Rensburg.
Phindile Zondi, who is part of the first group of firefighters, said the team was well prepared for the task at hand and that safety was key.
“Safety is very important, we have to make sure that when information is delivered, we understand it correctly. We have to work smart. When it rains here in Canada, the fires continue no matter how heavy the rain is pouring,” she said.
Ntokozo Mkhize from Kwambonambi, who has been working as a firefighter since 2019, said that although it had been challenging for them as a group, they were coping and overcoming demands.
He said the experience had changed his perceptions about South Africa and he was more grateful and appreciative of what the country has to offer.
Barbara Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, said the extensive experience and training of these firefighters would significantly enhance efforts to effectively suppress and manage the wildfires in Alberta.
“You go to Canada to raise the South African flag and share your expertise and camaraderie with colleagues from other Canadian provinces to save lives, homes, businesses and large swathes of vegetation. We are proud of the fact that South Africa is again able to assist Canadian firefighting teams in their battle to bring the wildfires under control,” she said.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE