Victoria will not send firefighters to help battle Canadian wildfires

Victorian firefighters have been banned from battling wildfires in Canada and US, despite other Aussie states sending help — here’s why.

Victorian firefighters will not be sent to battle the massive wildfires threatening homes in Canada as other states move to send help.

Emergency Management Victoria has ruled it is not possible to put its resources towards the emergency response in North America, citing public health advice, the clean-up effort from destructive storms in June and preparation needed for the Australian summer as reasons for the decision.

Hundreds of fires are burning across Canada amid a major heatwave, with a state of emergency declared for British Colombia and Ontario. Towns have been evacuated and homes destroyed, and support from Mexico and the US is already on the ground.

Preparation needed for the Australian summer was a reason for the decision. Picture: Alex Coppel

New South Wales and Western Australia are sending crews; firefighters will have to isolate in hotel quarantine when they return in August.

It raises questions as to whether Canada and the US will be able to assist with Australia’s bushfire season under current travel restrictions, with aircraft and firefighters providing vital support in the horror 2019-20 bushfire season.

“Given the current public health advice, the ongoing recovery work resulting from the severe weather event in June and our preparation for the upcoming fire season; Victoria has made the difficult decision that it is unfeasible for us to dedicate resources to the Canadian wildfires response at this time,” an Emergency Victoria spokeswoman said.

“Victoria’s emergency management sector is dedicated to helping our international firefighting community when possible.”

More than a million acres of the western US and Canada were in flames on July 14, 2021 as multiple blazes raged across the region.

The spokeswoman said EMV had to weigh up what resources were available before assisting with emergencies overseas.

“The health and safety of our emergency services personnel is a top priority, as is ensuring our capability to provide emergency services resources to the Victorian community,” she said. “As a sector we will continue to work through the impacts of Covid-19 on our emergency services and to work with other jurisdictions on the sharing of resources where possible.”

Western Australia will this week send 17 men and women to assist in some of Canada’s hardest-hit regions, with other support personnel from NSW expected to travel with them.

Originally published as Victoria will not send firefighters to help battle Canadian wildfires