43-Person Taskforce Set To Bolster Fire And Emergency New Zealand's Canadian Assistance
A seven-person specialist team arrived in Manitoba during the week. The second deployment leaves on Sunday and features an agency representative, two taskforce leaders and eight five-person arduous firefighting crews.
Like the specialist team, they will be deployed for approximately five weeks.
Canada is currently experiencing a severe wildfire season and all their national resources are fully deployed.
As of 9am today, there are 518 wildfires raging across multiple provinces and over 145 of these are considered out of control. There are 105 fires in Manitoba province.
The firefighters are considered 'arduous firefighters'. It is tough, physical work. Previous Canadian deployments have seen arduous firefighters using hand tools to dig out hotspots, cut fallen branches, clear access tracks and escape routes, mop up, and all the other jobs associated with fighting large-scale fires.
This contingent is a mix of Fire and Emergency crews alongside Department of Conservation and forestry companies, and a New Plymouth District Council representative.
The deployed firefighters are from the following Fire and Emergency Districts:
Northland: 5
Waitematā: 3
Counties Manukau: 2
Waikato: 2
Bay of Plenty: 9
Tairāwhiti: 1
Taranaki: 2
Hawke's Bay: 1
Manawatū-Whanganui: 1
Wellington: 4
West Coast: 1
Mid-South Canterbury: 6
Otago: 6
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Weather: Hundreds of properties without power after severe gales in Northland
Severe gales downed trees and powerlines across the region. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Hundreds of properties are still without power after severe gales ripped through Northland. The wind downed trees and powerlines across the region on Thursday, lifting the roof off one home and flipping a truck and trailer near Dargaville. At its peak, there were thousands of properties without power, but on Friday morning that's down to nearly 500 - most of which are in Tinopai, a coastal settlement on the Kaipara harbour. Fire and Emergency said it attended 11 weather-related calls in Northland, all before midnight. Top Energy's website showed about 140 properties without power in the Far North, but it was unclear whether that was due to the high winds. MetService said more settled weather was forecast for Friday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- RNZ News
Tasman deluge cuts off access points to national park
A slip on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track between Mārahau and Anchorage. Photo: Department of Conservation / supplied Some access points to the largest national park in Tasman could be cut off for some time, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says Slips and storm damage has cut off access to the Kahurangi National Park, and part of the Abel Tasman Coast Track is temporarily closed. DOC Motueka operations manager Chris Golding told Midday Report it will take time to understand the full extent of damage across conservation areas and facilities. He said he could not offer a timeline on how long parts of Kahurangi will be cut off. But he added that it was quieter in winter, and DOC hoped the Abel Tasman track would be fully up and running by the warmer months. "The Abel Tasman, which is a pretty popular place, has a few slips and a few issues with one of the bridges, but largely the Abel Tasman is open for business, one section of the track is closed, but most of the park is still fine." But he said it was still important to note that the ground throughout the district was still very water-logged "So even when we have been through a track to check it, it could still be slips or trees coming at a later date. And it won't take much more rain for more of those slips to be coming down." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- RNZ News
Auckland's Muriwai hit by slip, some properties evacuated
Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Homes in Auckland's Muriwai have been temporarily evacuated, after a slip undermined part of Motutara Road. Fire and Emergency said the properties in the immediate area had been evacuated. Auckland Transport said the slip brought down a power pole. A spokesperson said contractors had been advised, but it was unclear when the road would re-open. Slip is directly across the road from the entrance to Houghton's Bush Camp. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Traffic is being redirected down Oaia Road to access Muriwai. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Motutara Road was closed to inbound traffic towards Muriwai at the Motutara and Murwai Road intersection. Traffic was being redirected down Oaia Road to access Muriwai. A police officer at the scene said the roadway on Motutara Road had been undermined on one side. The landslide was being assessed by a geotech engineer. Nobody had been reported as injured or missing. A power pole has come down with wires still attached. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Meanwhile, FENZ is also dealing with another slip in west Auckland, blocking part of Victory Road in Laingholm. It said the slip was still moving, and was blocking part of the road between Kauri Point and Warner Park. One fire crew was at the scene and another was on the way. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
