By Phenyo Selinda
The Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture (WOF-Kishugu JV) is deploying over 200 firefighters and management personnel to Alberta, Canada, to assist in combating extensive wildfires. This move comes as part of an ongoing collaboration between South Africa and Canada under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2019.
Urgent Call for Help from Canada
The Guardian reported on Wednesday that wildfires near the Canadian town of Jasper have forced more than 25,000 people to evacuate from one of the country’s largest national parks. The town, which is home to 5,000 permanent residents and an additional 5,000 seasonal workers, has been severely affected by the blazes and heavy smoke.
The request for assistance was made by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), invoking the terms of the MoU which allows for the exchange of wildland fire management resources between the two nations.
Previous Deployments and Preparation
This latest deployment marks the sixth time that WOF has sent a team to Canada since 2015. Notably, the 2023 deployment saw 860 firefighters and management personnel sent to Canada, one of the largest international firefighting efforts in the country’s history.
The deployment list has been finalised, and the team is currently undergoing final preparations at the Kishugu Training Academy in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. They are set to depart for Canada on Friday, 26 July 2024, via a charter flight from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, for a mission expected to last 39 days.
Flying the South African 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 and share their expertise and camaraderie with colleagues from other Canadian provinces and countries,” said a spokesperson for the WOF-Kishugu JV.
The team includes pump-trained firefighters with valid yellow cards, each having more than three years of firefighting experience and being physically fit. Remarkably, 30% of the selected firefighters in this deployment are women, including three management team members, underscoring WOF’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Local Operations Unaffected
WOF has assured all partners and stakeholders that this deployment will not impact South African firefighting operations. “Every one of our 200-plus firefighting bases in South Africa will continue to provide firefighting and fire prevention services to our partners and landowners,” said the organisation.
With over 5,000 firefighters available across South Africa, WOF is prepared to deploy additional resources to any major wildland fire activities in the winter fire season provinces. “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.”
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