Canada calls military to fight wildfire.
In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, the Alberta government announced that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) had begun to move out to support Alberta “as the province battles unprecedented wildfires”.
Troops from 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3PPCLI) and 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) are moving out to establish bases of operations in the province, the statement noted, adding that Army reserve soldiers drawn from across Alberta will deploy this week. Over the next few days, these units will deploy to the Grande Prairie, Fox Creek, and Drayton Valley areas, according to the statement.
In the statement, the Alberta government highlighted that the CAF has been working closely with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and said it has been conducting “significant” planning and reconnaissance throughout Alberta to determine where they are most needed.
“Alberta’s Emergency Management Cabinet Committee continues to meet regularly to respond to the current wildfire situation across the province,” the statement noted.
“Cabinet continues to have decision-making abilities and will make decisions as needed to deal with this emergency,” it added.
The latest wildfire update on the Alberta government site at the time of writing, which was published on May 11 at 5pm local time, outlined that there were 77 active fires in Alberta’s forest protection area. Of these, 24 were classified as out of control, 36 were being held and were not expected to grow beyond projected boundaries, and 17 were under control, the update highlighted.
Source: RigZone
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