The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE's) Working on Fire (WoF) programme will deploy 109 firefighters and management to Manitoba, in Canada, to assist with firefighting efforts.

This is the fourth deployment of firefighters to Canada and the team will be deployed on the evening of August 10, the DFFE said in a statement.

Canada has been experiencing record-breaking heat and associated dry weather. Large wildland fires are currently burning in 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. Owing to the number of provinces experiencing high fire dangers, Canada is close to exhausting available wildland fire management resources within the country.

The crew of 100 firefighters and a nine-person management team from South Africa 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 and a valid South African passport, as well as additional criteria, such as passing a drug test and having a clear criminal record.

Of the selected firefighters, 30 are women and 35 have previous deployment experience to Canada. They will be deployed for a period of 34 days.

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 WoF to assist with their fire management in Canada. The MoU provides for the exchange of wildland fire management resources between the two countries.

“I would like to extend my good wishes to the WoF 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 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy.

“Your commitment will serve as an example to members of the WoF 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,” she said.

“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 WoF programme is able to call on close to 5 000 firefighters spread throughout the country,” Creecy added.

Meanwhile, the WoF programme is administered through the Extended Public Works Programme, which 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.

Prior to their departure, firefighters and management underwent refresher training in Hekpoort, Gauteng, to ensure they are fit and ready for the conditions expected in Canada. Refresher training included map reading, power pumps use, fire line safety and 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.

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. They will fly to Winnipeg, Canada, via London.

Prior to their departure, they will undergo a Covid-19 PCR test and once they arrive in Canada, they will also be fully vaccinated, the DFFE said.