Nova Scotia has sent 21 firefighters to Manitoba to help fight wildfires raging in the Caddy Lake area.
“They’ve got two real serious fires on the go right now,” said Robert Lefurgey, a provincial Wildland Firefighter and crew leader of the group flying to Manitoba.
“One is about 70-thousand hectares and the other is about seven-thousand and I think they’re threatening quite a bit of infrastructure along the Ontario-Manitoba border.”
They’ll be spending two weeks in the Canadian wilderness.
“No showers, food will be brought in every couple of days, we’ll cook our own meals. It’s hot, dusty, dirty work,” said Lefurgey.
READ MORE: Firefighters gain ground on Caddy Lake Fire
High winds in the area are causing the fires to spread in size. It’s a challenge that crew members are eager to take on.
“It’s going to be an exciting and new experience for a lot of guys. We’re going to be in the bush the whole time so probably cooking our own food and maybe even bathing in the lake so it should be interesting,” said Rob Davis, a Nova Scotian Wildland firefighter.
There’s a wealth of experience among the crew; many members have fought wildfires across the country.
“I’ve been to BC, Alberta twice, Quebec, Ontario and now Manitoba so every place is different,” said Davis.
“Looking forward to another challenge.”
The intense working environment creates a tight-knit camaraderie within the group.
“It’s amazing the people that we work with. I’ve met guys from all parts of Nova Scotia and we all come together, we work as a team and we’re there to put the fire out,” said B.J. Wilson, a member of the Nova Scotia Wildfire team.
The province is also sending three wildfire experts to Alberta on Saturday.
They’ll be helping with fighting wildfires and support planning, logistics and fire behaviour.