The Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture (WOF-Kishugu JV) is deploying a team of more than 200 firefighters and management to the Canadian province of Alberta to assist with fire fighting efforts.
The Guardian reported on Wednesday that wildfires near the Canadian town of Jasper have forced more than 25,000 to flee one of the country’s largest national parks as multiple blazes and thick smoke descended on the Rocky Mountain community.
The report said the town is home to 5,000 full-time residents, alongside 5,000 seasonal workers.
The request for urgent assistance came from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC). It was in terms of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Canada and South Africa.
MoU between SA, Canada
The MOU, signed in 2019, provides for exchanging wild land fire management resources between the two countries.
WOF have been on five deployments to Canada between 2015 and 2023, based on the MoU. The five deployments include the historic deployment of 860 firefighters and management in 2023. It was one of the largest deployments of international firefighters to Canada.
WOF said they have since finalised the deployment list of firefighters and management.
The team is currently at Kishugu Training Academy in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. They are there for a training camp for final preparation before departure.
The group departed for Canada via a charter arranged by the CIFFC on Friday, 26 July 2024. They departed from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, and are expected to be there for 39 days.
Flying the SA flag high
“We extend our best wishes to the team as they embark on their deployment to Canada to help put out the fires raging in Alberta.
“They go to Canada to raise the South Africa flag. To also share their expertise and camaraderie with colleagues from other Canadian provinces and countries.”
The team includes pump-trained firefighters with valid yellow cards. With more than three years of firefighting experience and physically fit.
Meanwhile, 30% of the selected firefighters in the first deployment are women. They include three members of the management team. The WOF believes this highlights its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
In addition, several of the team members have previous international firefighting experience. This further enhances their expertise in tackling complex fire situations.
“We are proud that South Africa is again able to assist Canadian firefighting teams. …The extensive expertise of these firefighters will significantly enhance efforts to effectively suppress and manage the wildfires in Alberta.”
Local operations not affected
The WOF has reassured all their partners and stakeholders that there won’t be any impact on local operations.
“Every one of our 200-plus firefighting bases in South Africa will continue to function. They will provide firefighting and fire prevention services to our partners and landowners.”
The organisation said they still have just over 5,000 firefighters available at these bases throughout South Africa.
“Should there be major wildland fire activities in our winter fire season provinces, we will handle it. We will be able to deploy our Western and Eastern Cape firefighters to these hotspots. No partner and landowner will be left without any firefighting operations from Working on Fire. And we urge you to communicate with us directly should you have any enquiries.”
WOF is an expanded public works programme (EPWP). It is aimed at providing work opportunities to young people of all genders.
The programme is funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs. It recruits participants from marginalised communities and trains them in fire awareness. They are also trained in education, fire prevention and fire suppression skills.
- SAnews.gov.za
