Manitoba soldiers, reservists attack fires
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/07/2015 (3823 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
ONE hundred Canadian Forces Base Shilo soldiers have been deployed to help fight wildfires in Saskatchewan and hundreds more are ready if needed.
The soldiers were to arrive in Prince Albert, Sask., Sunday.
“They’ll be there as long as they’re needed,” said Lori Truscott, CFB Shilo public affairs officer.
On the weekend, more than 120 fires burned across Saskatchewan and about 13,000 evacuees remained in emergency shelters.
The CFB Shilo crew will reinforce soldiers already in the area.
Today, about 40 reservists from Winnipeg will also head to Saskatchewan to support the Canadian Forces mission. The first busload leaves Minto Armoury at 1 p.m.
Twenty-three U.S. fire specialists were also recruited to help manage crews, heavy equipment and aircraft.
Truscott said the Shilo soldiers — most of them members of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry — would receive specific training for fighting wildfires when they arrived.
They’ll support Saskatchewan’s regular firefighters by putting out hot spots near communities and doing general cleanup.
They’re part of the Immediate Response Unit (East) based in Shilo, which consists of soldiers always on standby to respond to emergencies.
That unit’s duties are rotated between 2PPCLI and the First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
Roughly 400 soldiers remain at Shilo on standby. They’re on four hours’ notice to get ready to go if needed.
“They’re waiting to go. They’re on a notice to move, Truscott said.
However, Truscott said as of Sunday, it didn’t appear more Shilo soldiers were needed.
That could change quickly, she added.
— Brandon Sun / The Canadian Press