Canada's raging wildfires, South Korean firefighters arrived in Ottawa on Sunday, July 2.
More than a hundred firefighters from South Korea touched down at the Ottawa International Airport as they plan to fight dozens of wildfires in Quebec.
Canada Wildfire: South Korean Firefighters Arrive in Ottawa
French firefighters battle fires north from the city of Chibugamau, Quebec, in Canada on June 12, 2023. Quebec has deployed hundreds of firefighters, with help from France and the United States as Canada is hit hard by unprecedented wildfires that have ravaged the country.
Canada and South Korea have joined forces to combat the devastating wildfires raging across the Canadian wilderness. As per a report by CBC Canada, a total of 150 firefighters from South Korea touched down, ready to help battle the wildfires that have been raging in Canada for weeks.
These valiant South Korean firefighters have traveled halfway across the globe to assist their Canadian counterparts in battling the relentless infernos that have gripped the nation.
The firefighters, who are part of the Korea Disaster Relief Team, are expected to be deployed to northern Quebec, where some of the most destructive fires are burning. They will be working alongside Canadian firefighters to contain the flames and protect communities from further damage.
It is worth mentioning that it is not the first instance in 2023 that Korea's Disaster Relief Team touched down in another country to extend a helping hand. Earlier this year, the South Korean team kicked off a relief operation in Turkey amid the devastating effect of a massive earthquake last February. This time, Korean firefighters are in Canada for another mission.
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Canada Wildfire Continues to Rage
TOPSHOT - A burnt landscape caused by wildfires is pictured near Entrance, Wild Hay area, Alberta, Canada on May 10, 2023.
The wildfire crisis in Canada has reached an alarming level, with numerous provinces, including Quebec, severely impacted. The flames have devoured vast stretches of forestland, threatened wildlife habitats, and displaced countless residents.
According to NPR, the smoke from Canada's wildfire triggered red and purple air quality alerts in various parts of the United States. Cities like Iowa, Madison, Columbus, Ohio, and Cedar Rapids, were under purple alert rating, which notes a "very unhealthy" air quality, last week.
A Michigan Radio reports that meteorologists warned that "the average air quality is expected to fluctuate between unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy for everyone."
CTV News Canada notes that the country is now grappling with the worst wildfire season in recent times.
Roughly 1,500 firefighters from various parts of the world, such as the United States and Australia, are now part of the huge battle. South Africa, Spain, Chile, and New Zealand have also deployed their firefighters to help in the massive wildfire fight in several parts of Canada.
But despite that, SOPFEU communications officer Mélanie Morin says they need more firefighters to deal with the raging wildfires, which span around 1.2 million hectares.
With firefighting resources stretched thin due to the several wildfires in Canada, the timely arrival of the South Korean firefighters should help battle the pesky infernos in the region.
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