Meet the international firefighters battling Canada's worst wildfire season in a century

Andrew Stewart said his first glimpse of a Canadian wildfire left quite the impression.

The firefighter from the South Australian Country Fire Service arrived in Canada on June 8 and was deployed to the wildfire burning near Edson, Alta., roughly 200 kilometres west of Edmonton.

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According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, as of Wednesday, there were:

102 firefighters from France in Quebec

327 firefighters from the U.S. in Alberta and Quebec

218 firefighters from Australia in Alberta

40 firefighters from New Zealand in Alberta

40 firefighters from Costa Rica in Alberta

60 firefighters from Chile in Alberta

200 firefighters from South Africa in Alberta

80 firefighters from Spain in Quebec

140 firefighters from Portugal in Quebec

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Sietse Vandermeulen, a forestry officer with Alberta Wildfire, said the help is invaluable.

Along with bringing experience fighting fires, Vandermeulen said the international firefighters bring something intangible.

more

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/international-firefighters-canada-wildfires-1.6879084


***We are very thankful for the help, it has totally made the difference and has saved towns for sure.