‘We're looking to put fires out in our communities': Retired conservation officer looking to help fight wildfires
CTV's Joseph Bernacki has more on how some Manitobans are pushing the province to let them help battle wildfires.
A retired conservation officer said the province has refused to accept the help of his colleagues despite the expertise he said they could bring to the effort.
'We've got a number of retired (conservation officers) that are willing and wanting to go out to these fires,' Darryl Hedman said Thursday.
Ian Bushie, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures for the province, said they are grateful for the help but must keep community safety top of mind.
'It's been very great to be able to engage,' Bushie said during a news conference. 'And we do have those conversations, but it's also about community safety as well too. So we do not want to put folks in harm's way.'
The province told CTV News they are 'grateful for the offers of assistance' and, at the present time, are accepting help from former fire officials on a case-by-case basis.
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