Australia sends crews to help Canada in its fight against wildfires [Video]

As wildfires continue to burn from northwest Ontario to British Columbia, Canada is getting help from near and far, and very far.

Southern Highlands – New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Australia says a 96-personnel-strong Australian contingent of firefighters and specialists have deployed to Canada for five weeks.

The service says the deployment is in response to a request from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says in a tweet that, “When our mates need help, Australia is there.”

A post on social media platform X from the official account for the Australian High Commissioner to Canada, Kate Logan, says the crews “are on their way to support their Canadian colleagues battle wildfires in Alberta.”

In Manitoba alone, the number of evacuees from fires has reached 21,000, and crews have come from other provinces and the United States.