The firefighters were greeted by Minister of Natural Resources and Forests Maïté Blanchette Vézina and French Consul in Quebec Frédéric Sanchez.
French friends, welcome! “On behalf of all the citizens of Quebec, I sincerely thank you for responding to this call,” the minister said gratefully in a speech.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Forests Maïté Blanchette Vézina and the French Consul in Quebec Frédéric Sanchez thanked the firefighters several times.
Photo: Radio Canada / Pier-Olivier Nadeau
The auditor Bruno Ulliac from Montpellier also spoke. It is with great humility that we have come here to help you. The firefighters are at your disposal, they are there to help you, he assured.
The firefighters from southern France are mainly deployed to the operational base of the Society for the Protection of Forests from Fire (SOPFEU) in Roberval.
The department, which will be based in Quebec and made available to SOPFEU, includes military rescuers from civil security and firefighters from various French departments. They are forest fire specialists and come from all over France. Backfire specialists [feu allumé volontairement devant un incendie, pour créer un espace vide afin d’empêcher sa propagation, NDLR] are also part of the department, the French Consulate General said in a press release.
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Fires in Canada: The Gard Fire Brigade team is ready for departure, accompanied by the director of the Gard Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Colonel Thierry Carret.
Good luck on your mission folks! pic.twitter.com/nrr40dDCmB
– Fire Department Gard (@pompiersdugard) June 8, 2023
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The firefighters are carrying 14 tons of equipment, the consulate adds. The firefighters will be on duty in Quebec for a maximum of three weeks.
We came with forestry tools to make tactical fires and cut down trees. “We have to adapt to the way our Canadian colleagues work to see how we use all these devices,” added Bruno Ulliac. He reminds that the techniques are not exactly the same from country to country.
The first French firefighters arrived in Quebec.
Photo: Radio Canada / Guylaine Bussière
Give some help
Be aware that we are all volunteers to help our Canadian colleagues who mentioned Bruno Ulliac from the beginning. It reflects the messages of several professionals met by Radio-Canada at the exit of their flight.
“It is important for us to help people who need it and our colleagues in Quebec. Because yes, today we come, but tomorrow may be the opposite. »
– A quote from Cyril Zanco, Fireman
We know of fires at a house in the south of France but they don’t match what we saw in any way, admits another firefighter. It is important for us to be here to help our cousins in Quebec and to contribute our expertise.
The French firefighters who have come to support SOPFEU are preparing to go to the regions where their support is needed.
Photo: Radio Canada
other reinforcements
Europe has pledged nearly 300 firefighters to help fight wildfires in Quebec.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed her support on Twitter. Firefighters from France, Portugal and Spain will come to Quebec.
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We stand in solidarity with Canada in the face of the terrible wildfires.
Canada has asked the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for support – and we are responding promptly.
🇫🇷🇵🇹🇪🇸 offer the help of more than 280 firefighters.
There are more to come.
—Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 8, 2023
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Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina announced on Thursday that talks with the United States about offspring were underway.
SOPFEU teams have been working for more than a week, it will help the teams on the ground, the minister said. We managed to contain the fires that threatened communities without loss of life. They’ve done a great job, but having offspring will help us solve some problems that we had to let go.
With information from Guylaine Bussière