WA firefighters deploy to Canadian wildfires

Twelve fire and emergency services personnel and forest firefighters will depart Perth today to help fight dozens of wildfires that are threatening communities across western Canada.

The seven Department of Fire and Emergency Services and five Department of Parks and Wildlife officers will be part of a national contingent of 106 flying to Canada from the Eastern States on Monday.  They are expected to be primarily based in British Columbia and Alberta and return on August 19.

The fires in Canada have caused tens of thousands of people to be evacuated and burnt more than 1.9 million hectares of forest.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said the deployment would give WA’s fire personnel the opportunity to gain valuable frontline experience and assist communities under extreme threat.

“Just as WA needed assistance fighting the unprecedented fires in the south-west of the State earlier this year, Canada now faces a similar battle,” Mr Francis said.

“We are pleased to be part of a national effort helping the people of Canada when it is most needed.”

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said it was satisfying that expertise from the Department of Parks and Wildlife would be able to help another jurisdiction to overcome wildfires.

“The Western Australian contingent includes experts in bushfire incident management, bushfire behaviour, aerial firefighting and forest fires,” Mr Jacob said.

“I am sure our personnel will bring home valuable knowledge from their counterparts in Canada as much as they will share our expertise with the enormous international firefighting effort.”