Weather conditions remain the biggest enemy for fire crews, he said. Homeowners have a choice – leave when the threat of fire arises, or stay and protect their homes.
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As well, 23 fire specialists arrived from the United States to help manage crews, heavy equipment and aircraft. “There’s strong co-ordination between all involved”, McKay said. “It’s something they’ll tell their grandkids: The great northern fires of 2015”.
“These are massive and they’re not going to be put out”, he said.
Even if the fires slow in the coming weeks, as is expected, lingering burns could be a problem in the far north, he says.
“We are pleased to be part of a national effort in helping the people of Canada when it is most needed”.
For a lot of people, losing a home is their life…
Saskatchewan fire officials say major fires continue to threaten communities in the north, including La Ronge and Montreal Lake. La Ronge has been divided into sections for each urban crew to tackle approaching flames and embers carried in on the wind. Although they have no idea how long they will be there, he said they are prepared for the long haul.
“Everything is Mother Nature dependent”.
“Every little bit helps and we’re certainly happy that our partners in Jalisco were able to give us firefighters”, he said.
The company offered up two of its mechanics at no cost to service rescue trucks, tankers and more.
The country is facing some of its worst fires in years in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Brad Wall doesn’t think the fires will burn until winter.
“That’s what we have to do in these sorts of situations”, Anderson says.
“It’s kind of lonesome”, she said. “It’s not affecting us at ground level”, Todd said. “They’re all on the fireline, and now we’re bringing in resources internationally, from Mexico, Australia, New Zealand”. “Our priority has to be people right now, property and putting out the fires”. Training will be provided.
“We recognize people need to get in and out”, said Duane MaKay, Saskatchewan’s Commissioner of Emergency Management and Fire Safety. “It is hard work and physically demanding”.
Over 1,000 B.C. firefighters are fully deployed in the province, working to battle the large number of wildfires.
In other words, he says, some of the fires that are burning now may still be burning this time next year.
A call for firefighters has also been made south of the border.
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Similar conditions across the American West have helped fuel for large, destructive blazes, including one in Wenatchee, Washington, that began in late June that destroyed almost 30 homes.
