Darling Downs firefighter joins 5000 international volunteers on Canadian fire grounds

As Canada was facing its worst wildfires in recorded in history, a call went out across the globe for volunteers to help protect homes, lives and pristine wilderness and firefighters in the Darling Downs were quick to respond. 

Nestled in the northern reaches of Alberta, the subarctic village of Rainbow Lake was under threat from the worst wildfires in Canadian history.

As the fires raged, a call went out to firefighters in Australia, South Africa, the US, Europe and South America for aid, and Gowrie Little Plain Rural Fire Brigade First Officer Martin Hogg was one of the 5000 personnel who put their hand up to help.

Every day, for 28 days, Mr Hogg would strap on a backpack full of water, food and firefighting tools and trudge through melted permafrost and thick pine marsh country to help his Canadian colleagues protect the small town.

It was a gruelling task, but one Mr Hogg savoured.

“I wanted the experience,” he said.

“I wanted to learn how people fight fires in a different country and hopefully bring back new ideas that could help us with our fires.

“The Canadians also helped us in the Darling Downs with our fires in 2019-20 and I wanted to return the favour.”

Gowrie Little Plain Rural Fire Brigade First Officer Martin Hogg fought fires in thick pines first and maarsh peat bogs.

It was hard work that was mostly done on foot with hand tools.

A team 34 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services volunteers left Australia late on May 25 for the month-long assignment.

When they arrived at Rainbow Lake, the fire threatening the town was only about 3 per cent contained, so they got to work.

The melting permafrost had turned the area to a swampy mess so it was almost impossible to get trucks into the affected area.

This meant most of the work had to be done on foot.

“There were days when I was out for 10-12 hours where I had to carry everything I needed for my back,” Mr Hogg said.

Gowrie Little Plain Rural Fire Brigade First Officer Martin Hogg said he volunteered to pay the debt owed to Canada after it sent firefighters to help in the 2019-20 fire season in Toowoomba.

To further complicate matters, the area was home to large sections of peat marsh that would smoulder for days, often transferring fire underground and outside containment lines.

“The fire sneaks underground then goes straight up the pine trees, then the trees explode,” Mr Hogg said.

Despite the unfamiliar conditions, Mr Hogg said he always felt safe as the authorities had a close eye on the situation.

“We only got called off the fire ground once,” he said.

Mr Hogg’s team landed back in Queensland on June 29, having contained about 67 per cent of Rainbow Lake fire.

More than 40 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel volunteered to help fight the Canadian wildfires in 2023.

Meanwhile the fires had destroyed more than 7.9 million hectares of forest.

A second team of 37 QFES and Queensland Park and Wildlife Service personnel was dispatched to help with wider effort as Canadian authorities grapple with what has been a horrific fire season.

The fires have affected eleven provinces and territories, with large blazes in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario and Quebec.

The wildfires destroyed more than 7.9 million hectares of forest.

Four days before Mr Hogg returned home the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre declared the 2023 wildfire season was the worst in recorded history.

Mr Hogg said he would relish the opportunity to volunteer overseas again as that spirit of service was hardwired into QFES personnel.

QFES volunteers amoung the think pine forests.

“We all do our part,” he said.

“I think it is very important as it shows that we as Australians care about other people and other countries.

“Volunteering a very rewarding experience, you are giving back to the community, helping people and nothing beats seeing the delight on someone’s face when they see you are there for them.”