N.S. firefighters head home after helping to battle large Sask. wildfire

CBC

15 hours ago

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A group of Nova Scotia firefighters began their journey home Friday after a roughly two-week deployment in Saskatchewan helping to battle a monster wildfire in that province.
According to Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection with Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, the crew of 20 firefighters and a department representative was assigned to what's called the Shoe fire near Little Bear Lake in northern Saskatchewan.
He said it's one of the largest fires now burning in Canada and that the Nova Scotia crew was supporting efforts to protect communities. An update Thursday on the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency's website said the fire had burned more than 550,000 hectares.
"They've been working in very challenging conditions," said Tingley.
"They've been doing some mop-up operations, just making sure any of the hot spots … that are around values [property or assets that could be damaged by fire] are completely extinguished."
The crew also helped to reinforce control lines, which is a tactic where potential fuel is removed from the path of a fire.
In Nova Scotia, it's been a quiet wildfire season so far, Tingley said, pointing to regular rainfall and wet conditions through much of April and May.
He added that the number of fires and hectares burned are at "historic lows." That's similar to last year, which was the least active wildfire season on record. There have been some small fires in the province this year.
It's difficult to make long-term predictions about weather, Tingley said. But based on "seasonal briefings" his department has received, he said there are "some indications … that there's potential for warmer conditions in general for the region."
In 2023, wildfires tore through parts of the Upper Tantallon area and Shelburne County, destroying 200 homes. That year, personnel from other parts of Canada and the United States assisted Nova Scotia's firefighting efforts during what would be the most devastating wildfire season on record.
For the province to now be able to send firefighters to help others, Tingley said, is "a very good feeling."
Firefighting resources across Canada are strained, according to the organization that co-ordinates resources and information between agencies.
"The current situation is fairly severe across Canada, particularly within the Prairie provinces into British Columbia and Ontario as well," said Alexandria Jones, a spokesperson for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
"We've had to reach out to our international partners for assistance."