To help combat the blazing wildfire situation in Alberta, Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry has sent 182 fire rangers and incident managers from across the province.
Ontario has increased its support, after sending an initial group of around 40 last week.
Kyle Hayward, a ministry communications and media relations specialist, said that these individuals will “bring a more breath of knowledge” in the effort to manage the out-of-control fires spreading across parts of Alberta.
“Based on their experience here on the ground here in Ontario, they understand the strategic approach to wildfire management. Some are veterans and have been in other parts of Canada in this scenario before,” Hayward said on Thursday.
Hayward said that the fire rangers and incident managers will be flying out of Ontario in waves. The first wave has been deployed since May 6 and will be returning on May 21.
When asked if the 182 personnel would leave a gap in fighting wildfires in northwestern Ontario, Hayward said public safety is always “top of mind.”
“We know the situation in Alberta is very serious. We are committing to helping as much as we can, but we also looking to maintain the capacity to respond to new wildland fires here. That’s something we are always thinking about,” said Hayward.
Hayward said forecasts of rain have lowered the wildfire hazard, but with warmer temperatures expected over the long weekend, he encourages the public to “be fire smart near any fires you start” because hazard levels can change.
