#SouthAfrica Fire crews deployed to Canada @Fire_Africa @Fire_Daily. @chilewildfires @ABC pic.twitter.com/xfeUwMBJUN
— @Fire24Med (@FirstaidFlagg) May 29, 2016
We could not be prouder of our local firefighters. Yesterday, 300 firefighters (60 of whom are women) from the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire programme flew out from Joburg’s OR Tambo International Airport to Canada to help battle and put out a huge wildfire. The fire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, has been ongoing for a month, spread to more than 566 200 hectares and displaced more than 80 000 people.
There were more than 2 000 brave firefighters on the frontline, but more back-up was needed, so SA’s firefighters – who have exceptional experience with wild fires in the Western Cape – answered the call. According to Times Live, “This mission is the biggest non-military deployment of South Africans to date to help a foreign country.”
The team sang and danced as they were welcomed at the Edmonton International Airport. Watch the heart-warming video below: