Mexico sends over 300 firefighters to British Columbia
The arrival of Mexican firefighting crews comes as western Canada battles more than 100 active wildfires and maintains evacuation and monitoring operations in dozens of communities in the Thompson/Okanagan region. The post Mexico sends over 300 firefighters to British Columbia appeared first on Mexico News Daily
Over 300 Mexican firefighters and technical experts have journeyed to British Columbia, Canada, to aid in the ongoing battle against a series of destructive wildfires. These fires have forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 residents from the regions of Summerland and Peachland. The Mexican teams have been arriving in waves since mid-August, with the first group of over 100 personnel touching down in Abbotsford on August 3rd, followed by a larger contingent of more than 200 on subsequent days. A fourth wave is set to depart later this week.
Prime Minister David Eby expressed profound gratitude to the Mexican partners, stating that Mexico responded to the call by deploying a significant force to bolster B.C.'s firefighting efforts. The Mexican teams are joining a larger force of around 2,000 wildfire service personnel who are diligently working to contain the flames.
The Mexican contingent is primarily stationed in the Fraser Canyon and Thompson/Okanagan regions, participating in firefighting, control operations, and reconnaissance. Their duties encompass direct fire attacks, extinguishing hotspots, tree felling to eliminate hazards, and ensuring a steady water supply for suppression operations.
B.C. Premier David Eby welcomed the arrival of the Mexican crew and praised their swift response. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar expressed pride in the collaboration between Canadian and Mexican firefighters, emphasizing their commitment to tackling the crisis regardless of borders. The firefighting crews are primarily composed of experienced professionals from Mexico's National Forestry Commission, National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, state and municipal environmental agencies, Civil Protection, rural fire management brigades, and civil society organizations.
This assistance comes as B.C. continues to grapple with more than 100 active wildfires covering a vast 156 square kilometers, further highlighting the international solidarity in addressing this urgent environmental challenge.
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