Canada: Alberta calls for wildfire reinforcements

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Canada: Alberta calls for wildfire reinforcements

Alberta Fire officials put out a call for help Tuesday, and Firefighters and equipment from around Canada and Mexico were headed to Alberta Wednesday to help battle 17 out-of-control wildfires.

The totals so far: 890 wildfires since April 1.
More than 67,000 acres of forest and scrubland have burned and Alberta officials were most concerned with 12 fires burning near Fort McMurray.

Resources: 600 Canadian firefighters are on the lines.
Damages: No property losses.
Deaths/Injuries: No injuries.

Out of area responders:
Northwest Territories sent 35 firefighters.
Ontario is sending 116 and three air tankers.
Quebec is sending two air tankers.
New Brunswick dispatched 10 firefighters.
Jalisco, Mexico, 21 firefighters en route.

Road Closures: Alberta Transportation announced several highways were closed and motorists should be prepared for more closures before setting out.
Weather: Many of the fires were attributed lightning strikes, and conditions have been very dry officials said.

1 comment:

ConnorWednesday, June 17, 2009 9:34:00 PM
What about the USFS and CalFire the worlds best. Are they not requested to douse these wildfires?
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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009