Seven more Island forest firefighters are heading out to help with the increasingly serious wildfire situation in western Canada, says Minister of Communities, Land and Environment Robert Mitchell.
“Last month, our department dispatched two fire fighters to help with fires in northern Alberta and we are pleased to be able to support this new request as well,” said Minister Mitchell.
“In addition to the help they provide to the other provinces, they will also return home with knowledge and skills that can be used if Prince Edward Island were to face serious wildfires in future years.”
Five Islanders will leave for Alberta today as part of a joint P.E.I./Nova Scotia fire team, and at the end of the week a staff member will be going to the Northwest Territories to act as a Fire Strike Team Leader and another will be going to British Columbia to help with fire equipment repairs.
Many areas of western Canada have been hit hard by drought conditions this year and many of these areas contain hundreds of square kilometres of dead pine killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle. In July, temperatures can reach record highs with frequent severe, but often dry, lightening storms igniting fires across a vast region.