Over 100 Mexican firefighters were sent to Canada to help fight fires

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Conafor sends them to support forest fire fighting

For the fourth time, the Government of Mexico, through the National Forestry Commission (Conafor), sent a contingent of combat personnel to help suppress forest fires in Canada, made up of 101 people, including personnel from San Luis Potosí.

The Mexican contingent, which this time will work in the province of Ontario, is made up of five brigades, five brigade chiefs, 20 crew chiefs, two representatives of the field unit, a Covid coordinator, and the rest as line combatant personnel. , who make a total of 101 people.

The staff, Conafor pointed out, comes from 22 entities in the country: Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chiapas, Mexico City, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Yucatán.  

“All of them comply with the requirements and standards requested by Canada since they completed their registration in the online platform of the Forest Fire Fighters Selection System for International Deployment (SISECOIF) 2021 and satisfactorily accredited the phase of physical fitness evaluations and knowledge of forest fires “, he specified.

“This contingent is sent by the Mexican government at the request of Canada and responds to the statistics of the Canadian Interagency Center for Forest Fires (CIFFC), which classifies the current situation in that country as critical, for which a level 5 of national preparation, “he said in a statement.

He added that the Mexican contingent arrived on July 17 at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, where it was received by a delegation led from the Mexican side by the Mexican Ambassador to Canada, Juan José Gómez Camacho, and the Consul General of Toronto, Porfirio Thierry Muñoz Ledo. .

Rickford welcomes 100 Mexican Firefighters and support staff

Rickford welcomes 100 Mexican Firefighters and support staff

NORTHERN, ONTARIO. Greg Rickford was glad to welcome 100 firefighters and support staff from Mexico in Toronto to help Ontario in its fight against several large forest fires in the Northwest.

We are thankful for the brave efforts of Ontario’s forest firefighters and all the people that support their efforts to keep our Northern communities safe. Keeping people safe and protecting property is our top priority.

More than 100 firefighters and support staff from Mexico will arrive in Toronto on July 17 to help Ontario in its fight against several large forest fires in the Northwest.

The Mexican fire crews will be briefed on fire, safety and COVID-19 protocols before receiving their fire assignments. The firefighters will be required to follow the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, such as physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and daily self-assessments. The Mexican fire crews will also remain in their own cohort.

“We are thankful for the brave efforts of Ontario’s forest firefighters and all the people that support their efforts to keep our Northern communities safe,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. “Keeping people safe and protecting property is our top priority.”

Due to extreme fire hazards and increased forest fire activity, an Emergency Area Order has been issued for all of Northwestern Ontario. The order will allow the ministry to take special measures to ensure the safety of people and the protection of critical infrastructure.

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“The Canadian Interagency Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement as well as agreements between the government of Canada and its international partners for the exchange of wildland fire resources, are coordinated by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC),” said Kim Connors, Executive Director of CIFFC. “The intention is to ensure the distribution of resources when and where most needed. This agreement with Mexico made it possible for CIFFC to coordinate the deployment of 103 Mexican firefighting staff to Ontario.”

The Restricted Fire Zone for the Northwest remains in place, residents are reminded to do their part and refrain from having outdoor fires – this includes burning of grass, debris and campfires, even when using an outdoor fire grate, fireplace, or fire pit. These restrictions are in place to reduce the number of preventable human-caused fires and lower the risk of wildfires impacting the public.

Source: lakesuperiornews.com, france24.com, pulsoslp.com.mx

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