Team of Nova Scotia firefighters heading to Jasper

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

A Maritime contingent will be on the ground in Alberta this weekend to help fight out-of-control wildfires in Jasper.

A team featuring 29 Nova Scotians, a representative from the department of Natural Resources and five Prince Edward Islanders will fly out from Halifax Stanfield on Sunday morning.

“Our friends in Alberta are fighting fast-moving, out-of-control wildfires, and they need our help,” said Natural Resources minister Tory Rushton. “I thank all Nova Scotians for following the daily burn restrictions, which is helping keep our wildfire season manageable here at home and allows us to send another crew out west.”

The department says current wildfire conditions in Nova Scotia allow the province to send the firefighters to help in Alberta, but Rushton is still asking Nova Scotians to be careful.

“We’re heading into a hot long weekend, so I urge Nova Scotians to remain vigilant about fire safety,” he said.

The province said a team that went to B.C. to help fight fires last month has returned home, and the group heading to Alberta can be called home quickly if they’re needed in Nova Scotia.