Over 300 personnel from across Australia and New Zealand have been deployed to Canada since 2 June 2025, supporting wildfire response operations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

As of mid‑July, Canada has experienced over 3,300 wildfires, burning upwards of 5.58 million hectares, making 2025 one of the most severe wildfire years on record. Canada remains at National Preparedness Level 5, the highest alert, under a full mobilisation of national firefighting resources, with active emergency measures still in place.

Coordinated through the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC), a total of 313 personnel have been deployed from all Australian states and territories and New Zealand, supporting Canada’s response to one of its most challenging wildfire seasons in recent years.

Deployments have included a range of roles such as firefighters operating in the boreal forests, incident management teams, aviation specialists, operational leadership, and liaison and coordination personnel embedded with Canadian provinces and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).

Australian and New Zealand firefighters have been working side by side with colleagues from Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Canada, and the United States, showcasing global cooperation in emergency management.

Caption: Australia and Costa Rica Crews working together. 

Stephen Hunter, International Liaison Officer – Australia and New Zealand, said the professionalism and skill from deployed personnel has been exceptional.

‘This deployment demonstrates the strength of international partnerships during times of crisis,’ said Hunter, Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services, who has been serving as the Australian International Liaison Officer.

‘Our teams have been integrated into Canadian operations at all levels, from frontline suppression to strategic coordination. The professionalism, skill, and adaptability of our people have been exceptional.’

Matthew Hartwich, Firefighter, said the challenging conditions act as a reminder of why this work is important.

‘Working with crews from around the world in the challenging Canadian forests has been a powerful reminder of why we do this job,’ said Hartwich, from Department of Fire and Emergency Services, currently deployed in Saskatchewan. ‘It’s about people, teamwork, and getting the job done safely.’

Rob Webb, CEO of AFAC, the Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services, said the event's focus on knowledge exchange and collaboration is more important than ever.

‘We are witnessing increasingly complex disasters across the globe. Through shared challenges come shared opportunities and like never before, global networks can become local networks. It's vital that that we actively seek to connect, share knowledge, and collectively accelerate along the path towards reducing disaster risk.’  

‘We are in a period of rapid technological change, climate change, and our societies are rapidly changing the way they live. The emergency management sector across the globe are working as one to meet these challenges for the benefits of lives and livelihoods everywhere.’ 

‘We welcome attendees across all levels and sectors to join us. Diverse perspectives are essential for better community outcomes,’ said Webb.

Contact

For further information, contact AFAC Media: media@afac.com.au  

About the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre

The AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) coordinates and facilitates international and interstate deployments through its established partnerships and national arrangements as authorised by the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee. The AFAC NRSC is recognised as an enabler of national capability for fire and emergency services.

The AFAC NSRC enhances the efficiency of resource deployments to an interstate or international natural hazard emergency event. Through its creation of partnerships and agreements, national resourcing capability is deployable through a collaborative operating model.