Latest news with #CL-415
Global News
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Military evacuates hundreds as wildfires rip through northern Ontario
More than 900 people have been evacuated from a remote community in northern Ontario using massive military transport planes as out-of-control wildfires spread across the province. On Sunday, Ontario asked the federal government to dispatch military personnel to help evacuate the community of Sandy Lake after a nearby fire expanded, doubling in size toward the edge of town in a few hours. Defence personnel said they had evacuated more than 900 people by Monday afternoon. The evacuations mark the latest twist in an already busy fire season in the province, one critics argue the Ontario government failed to prepare for. Data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre shows that the area of Ontario burned so far this year is already 38 times higher than it was last year. Story continues below advertisement The province has recorded 174 fires to date, compared with 97 last year. The 174 fires so far this year are above the five- and 10-year average for Ontario. For years, advocates, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and internal documents have all warned Ontario is unprepared for a major fire season. A government task force report in 2016, for example, warned that wildland forest fire rangers were quitting at an alarming rate and were being replaced with a dwindling number of inexperienced recruits. An aging fleet of waterbombers and other firefighting planes has also been hit with problems that saw them grounded for periods last summer. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Advocates and the union representing front-line firefighters have advocated for better pay to attract more full-time firefighters. They have also pushed to be reclassified as an emergency service to improve cancer coverage and for more year-round career opportunities. As of Monday, Ontario is mounting a full response to six out-of-control fires and another seven under control. The 13 fires total 216,225 hectares in size. With the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre rating the province's current ability to respond as 'poor,' the province has been forced to call in fresh resources. Two CL-415 water bombers were sent to the province Monday, according to the fire centre. Firefighters from other provinces were also shipped in to help, along with a team of five from Wisconsin. Story continues below advertisement Those fighting fire on the front lines have experienced close to three-week work stints without a break and fear burnout. 'Short staffing hasn't meant we have more fire on the landscape than we would have if we were fully staffed, but it means we're already on our second group of imported crews from B.C.,' said Eric Davidson, Ontario Wildfire Association president. Davidson, who has been fighting fire in Ontario for 12 years, spoke to Global News to share his experience, not on behalf of the Ontario government or its firefighting operations. 'It means many crews are already on their second 19-day stretch,' he continued. 'If the summer continues like the spring, it won't take long to burn everyone out. Right now, crews get off a fire and are right back into the top of the alert rotation.' Ontario NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, whose riding includes the Sandy Lake community being evacuated, said the government had ignored warnings that the fire program was unprepared. 'I think over the last few summers, we've been warning people, letting the government know that we need to be prepared,' he said. 'We need to have the proper resources, proper planes and also planning to do the evacuations.' He suggested that, with better resources, the worst of the current fires 'perhaps could have (been) avoided.' Story continues below advertisement Global News asked the government about short-staffing on crews, but the Ministry of Natural Resources did not address the question. A spokesperson said there were more than 50 helicopters and water bombers involved in the firefighting.
Economic Times
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Economic Times
Canada wildfire: Quebec sends firefighters and water bombers to aid Western Canada as wildfires force mass evacuations
AP A Quebec CL-415 water bomber, previously deployed in Labrador, now joins the fight against raging wildfires across Western Canada, as thousands flee their homes in Manitoba and Saskatchewan Quebec has stepped in to help neighbouring provinces battling severe wildfires, as flames driven by a late-May heat wave continue to spread across Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Premier François Legault announced on Sunday(June 1) that a specialized management team will head to Alberta on Tuesday, and three sections of 20 firefighters each will join Manitoba's efforts to contain the blazes. Two CL-415 water bombers from Quebec are already operating in Saskatchewan, while two others have been deployed to Ontario to assist where needed. Also read: No rain in sight as Manitoba grapples with raging wildfires; 17,000 evacuated Across the Prairies, extraordinarily hot, dry conditions have fueled more than 80 active fires. Manitoba and Saskatchewan declared states of emergency this week, and Alberta is juggling 51 fires that threaten both remote forests and oil operations. In Manitoba alone, Premier Wab Kinew confirmed roughly 17,000 people have been forced to leave their homes as crews battle 23 active blazes in the north. In Saskatchewan, at least 4,000 residents were evacuated by May 28 as fires closed roads and crept toward small Winnipeg, evacuees streamed into repurposed shelters and friends' homes, uncertain where they would spend the night. 'It's hard on everybody,' said Richard Korte, a school maintenance technician who fled Flin Flon with his wife and disabled son. From a temporary emergency shelter inside a hockey arena, evacuee Chris Schultz sat in his pickup with his dog, Stella, watching for friends and relatives arriving by bus. 'I might break out crying,' he admitted, 'but Stella makes life a bit easier for some of us.' Also read: Out of control wildfire explodes across BC-Alberta border First Nations communities in northern Manitoba have felt an acute sense of urgency as fires surround isolated reserves. Some elders and people with mobility challenges have been airlifted to safety, though heavy smoke grounded at least one charter flight. Evacuees described frustration at long waits for bus rides and limited hotel space, prompting Indigenous leaders to call for priority accommodations in southern communities. While Quebec has no active fires within its intensive protection zone and has lifted a ban on open fires in the north, Legault emphasized solidarity on social media. 'Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are going through difficult times with forest fires. Premiers Scott Moe, Danielle Smith, Wab Kinew and Doug Ford can count on our help and that of SOPFEU. We are with you wholeheartedly,' he wrote, noting that Quebec's Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel is 'closely monitoring the situation here' and that recent rainfall prompted the decision to send aid . Quebec's rapid response echoes mutual assistance calls from western premiers. 'We need to stay calm,' Kinew told reporters. 'We cannot thank other jurisdictions enough,' he said, referring to firefighting crews arriving from Quebec, Ontario, and the United States, which have dispatched air tankers and 150 firefighters to Manitoba.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Canada wildfire: Quebec sends firefighters and water bombers to aid Western Canada as wildfires force mass evacuations
Quebec has stepped in to help neighbouring provinces battling severe wildfires, as flames driven by a late-May heat wave continue to spread across Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Premier François Legault announced on Sunday(June 1) that a specialized management team will head to Alberta on Tuesday, and three sections of 20 firefighters each will join Manitoba's efforts to contain the blazes. Two CL-415 water bombers from Quebec are already operating in Saskatchewan, while two others have been deployed to Ontario to assist where needed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Newly Announced Veteran Benefits For 2025 (Updated List) Veteran Deals Today Learn More Also read : No rain in sight as Manitoba grapples with raging wildfires; 17,000 evacuated The wildfire situation Live Events Across the Prairies, extraordinarily hot, dry conditions have fueled more than 80 active fires. Manitoba and Saskatchewan declared states of emergency this week, and Alberta is juggling 51 fires that threaten both remote forests and oil operations. In Manitoba alone, Premier Wab Kinew confirmed roughly 17,000 people have been forced to leave their homes as crews battle 23 active blazes in the north. In Saskatchewan, at least 4,000 residents were evacuated by May 28 as fires closed roads and crept toward small communities. In Winnipeg, evacuees streamed into repurposed shelters and friends' homes, uncertain where they would spend the night. 'It's hard on everybody,' said Richard Korte, a school maintenance technician who fled Flin Flon with his wife and disabled son. From a temporary emergency shelter inside a hockey arena, evacuee Chris Schultz sat in his pickup with his dog, Stella, watching for friends and relatives arriving by bus. 'I might break out crying,' he admitted, 'but Stella makes life a bit easier for some of us.' Also read : Out of control wildfire explodes across BC-Alberta border Situation of evacuees First Nations communities in northern Manitoba have felt an acute sense of urgency as fires surround isolated reserves. Some elders and people with mobility challenges have been airlifted to safety, though heavy smoke grounded at least one charter flight. Evacuees described frustration at long waits for bus rides and limited hotel space, prompting Indigenous leaders to call for priority accommodations in southern communities. Support and aid While Quebec has no active fires within its intensive protection zone and has lifted a ban on open fires in the north, Legault emphasized solidarity on social media . 'Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are going through difficult times with forest fires. Premiers Scott Moe, Danielle Smith, Wab Kinew and Doug Ford can count on our help and that of SOPFEU. We are with you wholeheartedly,' he wrote, noting that Quebec's Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel is 'closely monitoring the situation here' and that recent rainfall prompted the decision to send aid . Quebec's rapid response echoes mutual assistance calls from western premiers. 'We need to stay calm,' Kinew told reporters. 'We cannot thank other jurisdictions enough,' he said, referring to firefighting crews arriving from Quebec, Ontario, and the United States, which have dispatched air tankers and 150 firefighters to Manitoba.
Hamilton Spectator
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Quebec lifts open fire ban, reports no active blazes in key zone
QUÉBEC - Quebec's Public Security Department says it has lifted its open fire ban in or near forests and says there no active fires in the intensive protection zone. Authorities say the decision to lift the ban was taken in conjunction with the province's forest fire protection agency, known as SOPFEU. Since the beginning of the forest fire season, the province has reported 104 blazes affecting more than a square kilometre of forest in the zone where fire protection resources are deployed systematically. By comparison, the 10-year average on the same date is 195 fires and about 2.5 square kilometres burned. Fire danger indicators had reached extreme levels in several parts of the province, but periods of rain in the forecast should bring those indicators down. The province says the ban was lifted as of Friday evening. The conditions in Quebec have allowed the province to deploy two CL-415 firefighting aircraft and their crews to Saskatchewan and two others to Ontario. The fire protection agency says it has also sent a Navajo PA31 twin-engined aircraft equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system to help with the Ontario blazes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Quebec lifts open fire ban, reports no active blazes in key zone
QUÉBEC – Quebec's Public Security Department says it has lifted its open fire ban in or near forests and says there no active fires in the intensive protection zone. Authorities say the decision to lift the ban was taken in conjunction with the province's forest fire protection agency, known as SOPFEU. Since the beginning of the forest fire season, the province has reported 104 blazes affecting more than a square kilometre of forest in the zone where fire protection resources are deployed systematically. By comparison, the 10-year average on the same date is 195 fires and about 2.5 square kilometres burned. Fire danger indicators had reached extreme levels in several parts of the province, but periods of rain in the forecast should bring those indicators down. The province says the ban was lifted as of Friday evening. The conditions in Quebec have allowed the province to deploy two CL-415 firefighting aircraft and their crews to Saskatchewan and two others to Ontario. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. The fire protection agency says it has also sent a Navajo PA31 twin-engined aircraft equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system to help with the Ontario blazes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025.
