Canada open to boosting aid for Australia as wildfires burn

OTTAWA— Nearly 100 Canadian fire experts have been sent to Australia to help battle one of the worst wildfire seasons the country has ever seen.

Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne says Canada is willing to do more to help, but a spokesman from his office says all Australia has requested so far is more people.

“I have communicated with my Australian counterpart to reiterate that we are prepared to consider further assistance as necessary,” Champagne said in a written statement. “When wildfires spread through Canadian communities, Australia answered our call for help. We are proud to do the same.”

Canada has offered money and equipment to aid other countries in the past, including a $15million offer of cash and use of some water-bombers when the Amazon rain forest was on fire in Brazil and Bolivia last summer. Global Affairs Canada has not said whether any of that money flowed or if the waterbombers were deployed.

Australian firefighters, alongside Americans, Mexicans and New Zealanders, came to Canada in 2018 to help British Columbia beat back the worst fire season that province has seen.

The Australian national council for fire and emergencies said Wednesday 97 Canadians have deployed to Australia to help this season. Most of the Canadians are there to help with aviation, logistics and fire behaviour, while Australia relies heavily on local volunteer firefighters to battle the blazes.