More New Zealand firefighters head to battle Canadian wildfires

In this 24 July, 2024, image obtained from the Jasper National Park in Canada, smoke rises from a wildfire burning in the park. Photo: Handout / Jasper National Park / AFP

A further 21 New Zealanders will head to Canada tomorrow to join firefighters battling more than 800 wildfires across the country.

The contingent is made of four five-person arduous firefighting crews, including five staff from the Department of Conservation, and a liaison.

They will head to Alberta, where 134 fires are burning in the province.

The firefighters are additional to the seven specialist firefighting personnel who landed in British Columbia from New Zealand last week.

Fire and Emergency's National Commander, Russell Wood, said it will be difficult work.

"They'll be firefighting in tough conditions, working hard to keep the communities of Alberta safe," Wood said.

"Given the scale of the emergency in western Canada, it's likely we'll receive further requests for support".

The deployment is expected to last at least five weeks,

Wood said Fire and Emergency takes the responsibility of providing international firefighting support seriously, but there is also value in using it to improve firefighters' skills.

"These deployments are extremely valuable for our firefighters and firefighting specialists. It gives them experience in different environments that they can bring back home."