Brussels, June 08, 2023 (Lusa) – Portugal, Spain and France will send 280 firefighters to help Canada fight intense wildfires in the country, as part of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EU), the European Commission announced today.

“We stand in solidarity with Canada in the face of the terrible forest fires. Canada has requested support from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and we are responding quickly,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on Twitter.

The official clarified that Portugal, Spain and France “offer the help of more than 280 firefighters”.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic also tweeted that, “at Canada’s request for assistance in fighting extreme wildfires, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated. “.

“France, Spain and Portugal have already provided a significant number of firefighters to help national teams and other neighboring teams”, but the EU “is ready to provide more help”, guaranteed Janez Lenarcic.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday the arrival of “hundreds of American firefighters” to fight forest fires in Canada, whose smoke has already reached the east coast of the United States.

Canada was battling more than 400 active fires as of Tuesday, with the largest share in the province of Quebec.

The country has recorded 2,293 forest fires this year and about 3.8 million hectares burned, above the average for the past few decades.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced on Monday that the province is awaiting the arrival of 200 firefighters specializing in fighting forest fires from France and the United States and that it is in talks with other other countries, such as Costa Rica and Chile, to send more. staff if necessary.

Legault recommended that people in the province close their windows and avoid outdoor physical activities, especially people who suffer from respiratory problems.

Justin Trudeau said climate change was the reason for the increase in the number of large fires, which “affect daily routines, lives and livelihoods and our air quality”.

“We will continue to work — here at home and with partners around the world — to fight climate change and its impacts,” Trudeau pledged.

ANE (VQ) // EA

By Impala News / Lusa

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