In this Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, photo, NSW Rural Fire Service crews fight the Gospers Mountain Fire as it impacts a structure at Bilpin. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Images via AP)
WINNIPEG — Manitoba is sending additional firefighters to Australia to help combat devastating wildfires in parts of the country.
The two members of the Manitoba Wildfire Program are part of a 21-member team of Canadians heading to New South Wales on Saturday.
Once they arrive, there will be five Manitobans on the ground assisting in wildfire efforts.
On December 2, the first Canadian team left for approximately a one-month mission, and on December 19, a second contingent of 30 highly qualified personnel from wildland fire agencies across Canada left for a 31-day deployment to New South Wales. A group of 17 firefighters were deployed to the state of Queensland on December 30.
Crews in the third and fourth deployments come from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Parks Canada.
