Local firefighter off to US to do battle

News Release
MNR

Editor’s Note: Colin Wood of Rainy River is in this group. Ontario Firefighting Personnel Dispatched to the United States Ontario has responded to a request for firefighting personnel from the United States (US). Ontario fire personnel departed for the US on Saturday, August 26. They are to be posted in Montana to assist in the firefighting efforts in that state. The Northwest Region is providing two 20-person fire crews, an Agency Representative and eight overhead staff including one Division Supervisor, one Sector Leader for crews, two Sector Leaders for engines, two Dozer bosses, one Task Force Leader and one Safety Officer. The East Fire Region will supply two 20-person fire crews, an Agency Representative and nine overhead staff including two Division Supervisors, two Sector Leaders for crews, one Sector Leader for engines, one Dozer Boss and two Task Force Leaders. There is a resource-sharing agreement in place between Canada and the United States that allows for the ready exchange of firefighting resources between the two countries. The Ontario firefighting crews and overhead staff being sent on this assignment are highly trained, experienced professionals in wildland firefighting. Resources from other Canadian provinces and territories are also assisting the US with their firefighting situation including people from British Columbia, the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan and personnel from Parks Canada. The US requested these resources through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre based in Winnipeg. Ontario was able to provide these resources to the United States as the forest fire situation in Ontario has eased considerably. Part of the Ontario contingency is coming from Northwestern Ontario and departed from Dryden on Saturday, August 26. The other part of the contingency is from the East Fire Region of Ontario and they departed from Sudbury on Saturday as well. Their destination is Kalispell, Montana where they will meet with their US counterparts and be assigned firefighting duties from there.