As wildfires continue to rage across parts of Canada, Michigan is stepping up to assist. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has deployed firefighters north of the border to help contain the massive blazes, some of which span 500,000 acres.
Jeff Vasher, the Resource Protection Manager for the Michigan DNRโs Lower Peninsula, confirmed that 15 firefighters have already been sent to Manitoba in waves since early July, with more potentially on the way. โWe belong to the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact. So, itโs Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin,โ said Vasher. โWhen they need help, we go help them, and if we need help, theyโll come help us.โ The firefighting approach in Canada differs from those used in many U.S. wildfire responses. โIn Canada, you canโt use equipment like bulldozers and that. So what theyโre doing is using hand tools to take away the fuel, take it down to mineral soil to try to slow it down and and then mopping up, putting water on it,โ stated Vasher.
