A wildfire burning near Lac-du-Bonnet in Manitoba. Photo: AFP/Manitoba Government
New Zealand's final firefighter has returned from deployment to Canada.
Fifty-nine Fire and Emergency (FENZ) personnel were deployed for more than two months in Manitoba and Alberta.
The fires erupted in May, prompting some of the provinces' largest-ever evacuations. By the end of the month, there were more than 170 separate blazes, sending black smoke south of the border into the US.
New Zealand started sending crews over in July.
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said the scale of the fires was "hard to imagine, with just one of the fires having burnt 300,000 hectares.
"That is almost two Stewart Islands."
By mid-July, there were more than 500 fires across Canada.
Wildfires burning in Sherridon, Manitoba. Photo: Manitoba government / AFP
FENZ deputy national commander Brendan Nally said they would bring back invaluable experience fighting large-scale fires, "which will enhance our wildfire response capability, as we head into our wildfire season".
FENZ has deployed more than 1600 personnel internationally to wildfire emergencies since 2000.
"I want to give thanks to the friends and family of those who deployed during this time," Nally said.
"It is a big burden to take on back home to have your loved one away for five weeks at short notice, but we've heard countless stories of thanks from the people of Alberta and Canada for helping them in their time of need."
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