Global Courant
France will send firefighters to help Quebec as the province continues to fight massive wildfires.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Sunday that France is “united” in the desire to help.
“One hundred of our firefighters are preparing to fight the flames with their Quebec comrades. Experts are also being mobilized,’ he says tweeted in French. “Canadian friends, reinforcements are coming.”
“Thanks Cousins!” Québec Prime Minister François Legault tweeted in response.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also thanked the French president on behalf of the Canadians, tweet in French“Our two countries are the best of friends and strongest partners, and this relationship is more important than ever.”
There are currently 141 wildfires in Quebec, with the military gearing up to help fight the blazes alongside firefighters. The Quebec forest fire prevention organization SOPFEU employs 475 firefighters to fight the fires.
More than 10,000 people have so far been forced from their homes due to evacuations in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region, which borders Ontario, as well as the North Shore community of Sept-Iles and its suburbs, and residents in Lebel-sur-Quevillon.
While wildfires are not uncommon in the county at this time of year, this is a significantly more severe start to the fire season than usual, with federal Emergency Preparedness Secretary Bill Blair calling the situation “unprecedented” on Thursday.
Canada has agreements to share firefighters with the US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Hundreds and more experts had come to Canada from the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to help with wildfires. Most have been deployed to Alberta so far.
Alberta and Nova Scotia have also recently experienced massive wildfires. The fires in Nova Scotia are largely under control on Sunday and the state of emergency Alberta has been in since early May will expire on Sunday.
Au nom de la population canadienne, and Privé des sinistrés des feux de forêt: merci. Nos deux pays sont les amis les plus proches et les partenaires les plus solids qui soient, et cette relation it’s plus important que jamais.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 4, 2023
Le Canada fait face à de terribles incendies.
La France stands in solidarity. One cent of the nos soldats du feu se préparent à aller combattre les flames aux côtés de leurs camarades québécois. The experts have not been mobilized.
Amis canadiens, les renforts arrivent.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 4, 2023
