Civil Defence

NZ firefighters head to help at Canada wildfires

07:35 am on 6 August 2018

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New Zealand is leaping to Canada's aid with a contingent of firefighters leaving tonight to help battle the growing number of wildfires there. Fifty-four firefighters and an 11-person incident management team are travelling to British Columbia where there are more than 450 fires burning. A team of 36 fire personnel has already been sent to the north and northwest of the United States which is also struggling to contain fires. Kevin O'Connor is a manager with Fire and Emergency New Zealand. He tells Susie Ferguson what is planned.