Over 300 firefighters from SA set to be deployed in Canada

‘We also wanted to elevate the level of training’

IN A huge deployment to assist a foreign country, 301 firefighters from across South Africa have started assembling in Johannesburg to fly to Alberta in Canada on Sunday to assist the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) in combating wild fires in that country.

This international deployment comes a year after a group of Working on Fire (WoF) firefighters went to Canada, where they assisted with fire suppression and prevention services.

The firefighters will be dispatched to assist with the suppression of wild fires in the forested areas surrounding Alberta.

The firefighters said they were proud the international firefighting community had recognised their skills and expertise.

Brendon Claasen, from Witfontein in George, said: “I’m really excited to be going abroad in a joint effort to contain the fires in Canada.

“I started the programme in 2012 and never thought I would go overseas, utilising all my skills learnt at Working on Fire.”

Working on Fire (WoF) is a government-funded, jobcreation programme focusing on integrated fire management in South Africa.

WoF spokesperson Linton Rensburg said Canada was experiencing serious fires, particularly in the Alberta province.

He said there were a number of priority fires that required human resources, especially the Fort McMurray, Alberta, fires where more than 500 000ha had already been burnt.

Rensburg said CIFFC had sent a formal request for assistance to their international partners, including Working on Fire.

He said last month Working on Fire held a national deployment camp where 400 firefighters received training to ensure they were physically fit and ready for the deployment.

“We also wanted to elevate the level of training to meet international standards, and in so doing, to raise the level of service they offer,” he said, adding that fitness tests were conducted and representatives from Canada demonstrated how Canadian water handling equipment worked.

“We are proud of our South African firefighters from our programme and we have no doubt and believe that they will do us proud to provide these essential services to Canada,” Rensburg said.

WoF has set the benchmark in providing training so young people can become professional wildfire fighters, and in so doing are not only providing them with a work opportunity, but also making a contribution in protecting the environment.