.jpg "Member News image")
Sharon Maloney, Betty Robilliard, Jessie Colombani, Matthew Mallett, Anthony Beacham
Over the weekend, five CFA members embarked on a deployment oversees to help fight wildfires currently burning across Canada.
The team departed Melbourne Tullamarine Airport on Saturday (20 July) along with representatives from Forest Fire Management Victoria.
They first flew to Sydney spent the night, before journeying on to Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta on Sunday.
They form part of the Australian support team to help tackle approximately 575 bushfires that have been burning for the last few weeks in Northeastern Canada. Around 9,000 people have been evacuated from the region.
The five CFA members included one Public Information Officer who will be stationed out of British Columbia, and four operational firefighters who are travelling to the firegrounds in Alberta.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan has been monitoring the developing fire situation in the northern hemisphere, particularly Canada for the past few weeks.
“We wish our members and partner agencies a safe journey and deployment as they support this significant wildfire event,” Jason said.
“It’s important we continue these cross-border arrangements for sharing personnel and resources. We’re proud of our relationship with these countries and I’m pleased we’re able to provide support.
“I want to thank our members for leaving their loved ones for the next month and I have no doubt they will represent Victoria and Australia proudly.”
Experts are anticipating worsening fire conditions and we may see further requests for assistance from Australia.
