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Manitoba is returning the favour to a southern neighbour that sent firefighters to the province during last year’s devastating wildfire season that killed two people and displaced 33,000 others.
Ten Manitoba firefighters landed in Bemidji, Minn., on Saturday to help with that state’s wildfire-fighting efforts.
“You were there for us, we will be there for you,” Ian Bushie, Manitoba’s natural resources minister, said in question period Monday.
The fire danger in much of Minnesota is “high” or “very high,” the state’s department of natural resources says.
Manitoba and Minnesota are among the jurisdictions that are part of the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact and share resources during major fires.
Fire near Bemidji
Bushie couldn’t speak about where the Manitoba firefighters would be deployed, but Bemidji is one of the hot spots. There was a blaze near Lake Bemidji State Park over the weekend that burned around eight acres, KAXE radio reported.
“While their fires are not out of control, this is assistance and relief for the crews that they have on the ground there,” Bushie said in an interview.
He added the firefighters are on a 14-day deployment but could be called back early if conditions change.
The wildfire risk in Manitoba remains low, as parts of the province’s northern region are still dealing with snow.
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