It’s the first such overseas trip arranged by the Winnipeg-based CIFFC, a body formed nearly 40 years ago by disaster-management officials in provincial and federal natural-resources departments
Canada and Australia are Commonwealth cousins and huge countries with opposite summer seasons, which are when fire risks are greatest. But it is only relatively recently that the two governments have realized that they are natural allies in the fight against wildfires.
“Since 2015, Australia has helped out Canada immensely ... this is just an opportunity to reciprocate," Mr. Mousseau said. The Canadian contingent is helping plan everything from the movement of people, equipment and planes, on down to smaller considerations, such as food, laundry and finances, said Melanie Morin, a CIFFC spokeswoman. “You need a team in place that takes care of the most minute things," she said.
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