Canada has experienced weeks of wildfires that have devasted millions of hectares and more than 100,000 residents have been evacuated and displaced.
King Island’s Senior Ranger, Shelley Graham left a few weeks ago as part of the Tasmanian contingent to join a 200-strong Australasian deployment and hundreds of firefighters from across the world to support the effort to fight the country’s wildfires.
Last week choking smoke labelled a “smoke storm” blew into the United States with New York and Detroit being named the most polluted cities in the world topping Dhaka in Bangladesh and New Delhi in India, according to the IQAir World Air Quality Index.
Reports are that air quality has improved as the fires are producing less smoke. The Canadian press and scientists are using the word “unprecedented” as records are shattered and there is a nationwide crisis.
Fire crews are exhausted.
“I have been deployed to the Lake Chipewyan Fire,” Ms Graham said.
“The fire has now been classified as “contained” and the Big Stone indigenous community have just been allowed to move back into their homes after being evacuated for three weeks, which is very satisfying.
“However, there is some severe fire weather coming, so that may change.
“The situation across Canada is still dire, there are over 400 active fires and most of those are classified as out of control. More than 4,000,000 hectares of land have been burnt. We are having new startups most days and there are still about 20,000 people displaced from their homes.
“Tasmania and Canada use very similar remote area firefighting techniques, so the work is very familiar to me, aerial insertion and extraction to very remote areas, water bucketing using helicopters and the use of pumps and hose lines.
“The work has been hard and dirty, working over 12 hours per day and 14-day shifts. Initially, the risks were that we were unfamiliar with the local factors that influence wildfire behaviour, and the terrain and wildlife, however, that is becoming familiar now that we are a couple of weeks in.
“We see bears most days as well as many squirrels, beavers and moose. Working with people from across the world has been interesting, we are working with crews from Canada, from all over America, Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m currently on two days off and then I’ll be back on the fireline for another 14 days before heading home. I’m looking forward to seeing my family and getting a decent cup of coffee.”
Canadian officials warn it could be a marathon fire season and welcomed the help of firefighters arriving from other countries.