The team of 24 firefighters who will be heading to Canada. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Fire and Emergency will be sending their third deployment of firefighters to Canada in a joint effort between three agencies.
The Department of Conservation and Forestry Protection Services will be sending the firefighters in co-operation with FENZ to help battle ongoing wildfires in Canada.
The team of 24 will be replacing the initial FENZ deployment, who will be arriving back in New Zealand on 28 June.
The third deployment will consist of 12 firefighters from FENZ, while DoC and FPS will contribute five each.
FENZ firefighter Emma Gibb. Photo: RNZ / Bailey Brannon
FENZ Firefighter Emma Gibb said their team is well prepared for the dangers ahead.
"We're pretty well briefed on the hazards, the do's and dont's.
"All of us are trained to go over and do the job we are going over to do, but safety is always at the forefront of our minds."
Gibb said the first team has provided valuable information for future deployments.
"What we go over there to do is based on what they've done and where they've been.
"It's not necessarily going to be the same location or task, but there's been communication on the conditions on what we need to prepare."
Smoky haze from wildfires in Canada blankets a neighbourhood in the Bronx borough of New York City, 7 June 2023. Photo: AFP / Getty Images
The duration of the team's deployment will be dependent on the conditions and Canada's needs.
FENZ Deputy National Commander Steph Rotarangi said agency co-operation is important in wildfire firefighting efforts.
"This joint approach allows us to share knowledge and this international deployment will allow us to bring new knowledge to the collective approach to fighting wildfires in New Zealand."
Rotarangi said with the continued effects of climate change, more wildfires are expected to be in New Zealand's future.
This team will bring back a better understanding of handling large-scale wildfires.
Canada's wildfire preparedness remains at level 5 extreme. The country currently has 410 active wildfires with 198 of those being out of control.
Currently this wildfire season is on track to be the most destructive in Canadian history, causing mass evacuations and burning millions of acres.
Millions have have seen the effects with smoke from the fires spreading to many parts of the US, affecting air quality and covering major cities in a smoky haze.
Numerous other countries are also involved, with firefighters coming from the US, Australia and South Africa.
