Troops fan out across Alberta as province prepares for challenging battle against wildfires
CBC
Troops are fanning out across Alberta as firefighters prepare for another skirmish with wildfires burning in the province.
About 300 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been dispatched to aid in the battle, as the return of hot dry weather and high winds is expected to make the fight more difficult in the days ahead.
As of Saturday morning, 83 wildfires were burning across Alberta's forested protected areas, including 22 burning out of control. That does not include the six wildfires burning outside those zones.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and 1 Combat Engineer Regiment are now working alongside roughly 2,000 firefighters battling fires across the province. Army reserve soldiers from across Alberta also deployed this week.
On Saturday, military officials from 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry provided an update from their newly-established camp of operations in Grande Prairie, about 450 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
Speaking from a field dotted with green tents and transport vehicles, Lt.-Col. Ben Schmidt, commander of the Land Task Force, said troops are now on the move.
"We have deployed about 300 soldiers so far as part of the ground land task force, in direct support to firefighter efforts, specifically looking at going out into the field and supporting the professionals," he said.
Schmidt, who is responsible for all the soldiers deployed in the province, said the military will also be providing support from the skies through air force deployments. If needed, officers will also aid evacuation efforts, he said.
Bases of operation are being established across northern Alberta and about 100 soldiers will be deployed to each location.
About 100 soldiers are now in the Grande Prairie area, Schmidt said.
An additional 200 soldiers are currently stationed at Drayton Valley. Half of them will be moving to Fox Creek, about 200 kilometres north, in a few days, he said.
Soldiers will remain in the province for at least another week but the deployment could be extended if the situation calls for it, Schmidt said.
Officials with Alberta's wildfire command centre have determined where the soldiers were needed most, he said.
Soldiers are currently working southwest of Grande Prairie where a wildfire, covering 1,581 hectares, continues to burn out of control.