14 January 2025
FREDERICTON (GNB) – New Brunswick firefighters are ready to help fight the catastrophic wildfires in California.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre put out a national call late Friday that assistance would be needed, and, by Sunday afternoon, 23 New Brunswick firefighters had completed their mandatory fitness test and were ready to deploy.
“We were asked, our team responded, and they are poised to go as soon as we receive the call,” said Natural Resources Minister John Herron. “When neighbours are in trouble, you help. I am impressed with everyone’s willingness to step up and how quickly this all came together over the weekend.”
New Brunswick businesses have also answered the call for assistance by offering transportation for the firefighters.
“Being ready to respond to wildfires is an important part of what we do,” said Jim Irving, co-CEO of J.D. Irving, Limited, which is prepared to contribute two planes to the effort. “And being a good neighbour is top of the list. We’re always happy to do what we can to help in times of crisis.”
Cooke Aquaculture and Ocean Capital have also offered to transport the firefighters to the United States.
“We have witnessed the tragedy caused by the fires in the Los Angeles area,” said John Irving, president of Ocean Capital. “When called upon, we promptly agreed to help fight the fires. It is our duty to support our neighbours during this challenging time and our thoughts are with everyone affected.”
“Those who serve as first responders are truly heroic,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke Aquaculture. “As a New Brunswick family company, we’re honoured to support their commitment to safety and willingness to jump into action to help Californians.”
The department’s wildfire management branch often works with its Atlantic region partners to determine the response when the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre calls.
“New Brunswick has highly trained and experienced wildland firefighters and overhead personnel, and we are ready to deploy quickly as part of an Atlantic contingent,” said branch director Troy Adams.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre is a not-for-profit corporation owned and operated by the federal, provincial and territorial wildland fire management agencies to co-ordinate mutual aid and the sharing of resources and information. New Brunswick deployed 144 members of its wildfire team across Canada last year to assist in fighting wildfires.
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2025.01.0005.html