B.C. sending almost 100 firefighters to Ontario, after 42 deployed to Manitoba

Globe and Mail17-05-2025

British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the province is sending almost 100 wildland firefighters to Ontario, where fires have been threatening several communities near the Manitoba border.
Parmar says the deployment comes after B.C. sent 42 firefighters to Manitoba, where a blaze near Lac du Bonnet this week destroyed 28 homes and cottages and left two people dead.
Manitoba remains in a state of emergency following a declaration by Premier Wab Kinew on May 15.
Parmar said the deployments are part of an inter-agency agreement that allows provinces to ask each other for wildfire support.
Cool temperatures and rain have kept B.C.'s own fire situation manageable, Parmar says, allowing for the crews to be deployed.
He said it's up to Ontario to decide where the B.C. firefighters will be sent.
Parmar said typical deployments to other jurisdictions last two weeks, but government is assessing the situation on a daily basis.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said in its 2023 report summarizing Canada's record-setting wildfire season that national and international collaboration will become increasingly important with the changing climate.
In 2023, every province except Quebec deployed personnel to B.C. to help fight wildfires.
The province also received support from the Yukon, the Canadian Armed Forces, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica and South Africa during the record-setting wildfire season.
2023 was also Canada's worst fire season on record as wildfires burned more than 17.2 million hectares.

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Canadian Armed Forces deployed to assist northwestern Ontario wildfire evacuations

Vancouver Sun

an hour ago

Vancouver Sun

Canadian Armed Forces deployed to assist northwestern Ontario wildfire evacuations

The federal government is deploying members of the Canadian Armed Forces to help evacuate a northwestern Ontario First Nation as wildfires rapidly spread in the region, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday. Carney said in a social media post that Ottawa has accepted Ontario's urgent request for assistance in and around Sandy Lake First Nation, and the military will help with emergency airlift evacuations. 'We're prepared to mobilize every resource needed to keep Canadians safe,' Carney wrote. In response to rapidly spreading wildfires in northwestern Ontario, the federal government has accepted a Request for Federal Assistance from the province. We've deployed Canadian Armed Forces aircraft and personnel to support emergency airlift evacuations… As of Sunday, the Ontario government said the Red Lake 12 wildfire, near Deer Lake First Nation, is out of control and more than 1,500 square kilometres in size. The fire is about six kilometres from the community of Sandy Lake First Nation, it said. 'Overnight growth was minimal, but the fire has been exhibiting high intensity activity this morning,' the Ministry of Natural Resources said. Helicopters and fire ranger crews are continuing to suppress the fires and are focusing on structure protection, the ministry said, adding that minimal rain is forecasted in the next 24 hours. The ministry said Sandy Lake First Nation is conducting a phase one evacuation of residents by air, and boats will be available if needed. The province said Deer Lake First Nation remains evacuated and is being protected by fire rangers. Aerial suppression activities will continue as smoke conditions allow, with helicopters and 11 FireRanger crews continuing suppression operations and focusing on structure protection. Minimal rain is forecasted over the next 24 hours. It said the province's northwest region had 26 active fires as of Saturday night, seven of which were out of control. Videos and photos on social media showed one fire approaching a construction site near Sandy Lake First Nation on Saturday, with multiple cargo containers catching on fire and crews reportedly escaping the blaze by sheltering in one of them. Manitoba-based construction company Sigfusson Northern confirmed their crew was safely evacuated after they were working on a job site near the First Nation. 'Our crews showed an extreme level of professionalism and courage in the face of a rapidly changing situation,' the company said in a social media post. Other provinces, including Manitoba and Saskatchewan, are also undergoing evacuation efforts in some areas due to wildfires. The wildfires have prompted air quality alerts in Ontario. Environment Canada warned that smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in areas including Sioux Lookout, Summer Beaver and Ear Falls. The weather agency added that some northeastern areas, including Timmins, Kapuskasing and Attawapiskat, are under a special air quality statement Sunday due to the smoke. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .