Australia sends elite firefighters to Canada to help battle more than 300 infernos after it sent its finest to douse our Black Summer bushfires
Australia is sending dozens of elite firefighters and emergency workers to battle more than 300 wildfires in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent teams of emergency workers to help douse infernos blazing across Australia during the nation's horrific bushfire season in 2020.
New South Wales and Western Australia are returning the favour this year by flying 55 of their finest firefighters to battle destructive summer fires in British Columbia, on Canada's west coast.
Heatwaves and droughts across North America resulted in dangerous conditions, with thousands of hectares of land destroyed by hundreds of fires
'The people of NSW know only too well the sense of devastation and heartbreak being felt by our friends in Canada, where hundreds of fires are being fought,' NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said.
'I know the contribution of our specialist personnel will be invaluable and I know our counterparts in Canada welcome our people, just like we feel supported when they send their teams to help us in our time of bushfire crisis.'
Heatwaves and droughts across North America resulted in dangerous conditions, with thousands of hectares of land destroyed by hundreds of fires.
Many residents either had their homes burn down, or are unable to go home due to the ongoing blazes.
Pictured: Members of the Australian Rural Fire Service in NSW during the 2020 bushfire season
Pictured: Firefighters in Bargo in southern NSW in December 2020. Canadian firemen were sent to help battle the blazes
The deployment includes 22 experts from the NSW Rural Fire Service, 10 from Fire and Rescue NSW and three from the NSW State Emergency Service.
NSW has also sent 'Marie Bashir' - an RFS-owned air tanker - to the US on a 45-day deployment.
The contingent from NSW will fly out from Sydney Airport on Tuesday and will remain in Canada for up to five weeks.
Upon return to Australia, they will quarantine for two weeks.