Manitoba firefighters help battle Montana fires
Last Updated: Monday, August 20, 2007 | 5:21 PM CT
CBC News
More than 40 Manitoba firefighters are headed across the border to help fight dozens of forest fires in Montana.
The United States Forest Services put out a plea for help in battling more than a dozen out-of-control forest fires in the state.
Tom Mirus, head of Manitoba' s fire program, said the 42 firefighters were released to Montana because cooler temperatures and rain have tempered the forest-fire situation in Manitoba.
Three forest fires are currently burning in Manitoba, down from as many as 100 earlier this year.
The group will face different fire-fighting conditions in Montana than those they're used to at home, Mirus said.
"It's going to be different terrain they are fighting in, different geographical area. They're fighting in mountains — after three or four days their legs are going to be quite sore," he said.
The fires in Montana are between 1,200 and 1,820 metres above sea level — a big change from Manitoba, which is about 240 metres above sea level, Mirus said.
"It's definitely going to make a different in fatigue, but after a few days they'll snap themselves back into shape."
Stacey Parker, 22, said she is up for the challenge.
"They say a lot of hand-tooling is going to go on, like pulaskis, axes, chainsaws, shovelling …. Our communities are more with water — we deal with pumps, hoses, helicopters," said Parker, a firefighter from Wabowden.
"We were told we are going to be driven in and a lot of walking around. I think it won't be so bad … we are physically fit to do it, so we should be fine."
The firefighters flew out of Winnipeg Monday morning; they planned to pick up another crew in Saskatoon, Sask. before flying to Missoula, Mont.
They will receive a half day of training at the base in Missoula before heading off on their assignments. They are expected to be away for about three weeks.
