10 August 2021​

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Working on Fire programme will this evening, 10 August 2021, deploy 109 firefighters and management to the province of Manitoba in Canada to assist with firefighting efforts in that country.

This is the fourth deployment of firefighters to Canada.

“I would like to extend my good wishes to the Working on Fire team as you embark on your fourth deployment to Canada to assist in bringing the fires currently raging across Manitoba under control.  I trust that, as in the past, you will fly South Africa’s flag high and that your camaraderie will stand you in good stead as you battle alongside colleagues from other Canadian provinces and cities to save lives and homes,” said the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy.

The Working on Fire programme is administered through the Extended Public Works Programme. It provides work opportunities, skills training and personal development to communities across the country.  The focus is on young people and women, with around 85% of crews comprising young people and about 30% women. 

The request for assistance came from the Canadian Inter-agency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) which has, in terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Canada and South Africa, asked for firefighting assistance from Working on Fire (WOF) to assist with their fire management in Canada. The MOU provides for the exchange of Wildland Fire Management Resources between these two countries.

A crew of 100 firefighters and a nine-person management team has been selected following a selection process which included criteria such as physical fitness, having a valid Yellow Card, more than three years actual firefighting experience, a valid South African passport, and additional criteria such as passing a drug test and having a clear criminal record. Out of the selected firefighters 30 are women and 35 have previous deployment experience to Canada and they will be deployed for a period of 34 days.

“Your commitment will serve as an example to members of the Working on Fire team who will be on standby to battle any wildfires that may break out here in South Africa as we near the end of our winter season,” the Minister added.

Canada has been experiencing record breaking heat and associated dry weather. Large wildland fires are currently burning in the Province of Manitoba and extreme fire danger exists across the western provinces with little relief in sight and new wildland fires expected.

A drier than normal spring has contributed to drought conditions persisting across much of western Canada. Due to the number of provinces experiencing high fire dangers, Canada is close to exhausting available wildland fire management resources within the country.

Prior to their departure these firefighters and management underwent refresher training in Hekpoort, Gauteng to ensure that they are fit and ready for the conditions expected in Canada. Refresher training included map reading, power pumps usage, fire line safety, helicopter safety as well as extensive pre-deployment training on the type of conditions that they can expect in Canada, including the different types of dangerous animals expected.

We also understand that we are currently amid our 2021 Winter Fire Season. However, as with previous deployments, we want to reassure our partners and stakeholders that this deployment will in no way have an impact on our current firefighting resources in South Africa, where the Working on Fire programme is able to call on close to 5 000 firefighters spread throughout the country.

The 109 firefighters and management are flying to Canada on a British Airways Chartered flight which has been arranged by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre and they will fly to Winnipeg, Canada via London. Prior to their departure they will undergo a Covid19 PCR Test and once they arrive in Canada, they will also be fully vaccinated.

Editor's note:

The Canadians have on three previous occasions requested assistance from the South African Working on Fire programme.  In June 2019, Trevor Abrahams, Managing Director led the last WOF Wolfpack Hotshot team of 40 firefighters to Canada. They joined teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon, North West Territories, Mexico and USA, who were all deployed to combat the huge Chuckegg Creek fire that ignited on 12 May 2019 and had burnt over 350,134 ha (26 July), demolishing seven homes.

For media enquiries contact:

Working on Fire: International Media Enquiries:
Trevor Abrahams
Managing Director
Cell: 082 557 5069
Email: trevor.abrahams@wofire.co.za

Working on Fire: South Africa Media Enquiries:
Susan Monyai
Communications and Marketing Executive
Cell: 082 740 4812
E-mail: susan.monyai@wofire.co.za

Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Media Enquiries:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
E-mail: znqayi@environment.gov.za