Other News Releases
For Release: September 2, 2020
Contact: Carrie Bilbao, Public Affairs Specialist 208-387-5457
NIFC mobilizes Canadian fire crews to provide wildland fire support
Boise, Idaho – The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho is
mobilizing three wildland firefighting hand crews from Quebec, Canada to assist with wildfire
suppression efforts in California. The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) at
NIFC comprised of fire managers representing the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the USDA Forest Service,
the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Association of State Foresters, requested the
assistance after determining that the U.S. is in need of additional crew support on large fires burning in the West.
“On a national and international scale, we maintain arrangements with international partners such
as the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The United States and Canada maintain strong
working relationships and provide each other with assistance by sharing wildland fire resources,”
said Josh Simmons, Chair of the NMAC. “We currently remain at a National Preparedness Level 5 with
a lot of activity throughout many geographic areas, including the large fires in California. At the
NMAC, we would like to thank the Canadian Government and firefighters for their willingness to
assist us with our firefighting efforts. We are grateful for their assistance that will help us be
successful in protecting lives, property, and valuable natural and cultural resources.”
The three Canadian crews, 60 firefighters total, along with two agency representatives, are
expected to arrive at NIFC later today, September 2, 2020. They will receive a
briefing orientation and participate in fire shelter deployment training. After a one-night rest
in Boise, the crews will fly to Reno, Nevada and board ground transportation to their fire
assignment on the North Complex in California. The North Complex consists of numerous
lightning fires being managed as one incident on the Plumas National Forest.
Currently, 112 wildfires are burning across the western U.S. and more than 5.5 million acres have
burned nationally this year. Above normal fire activity is occurring in northern California,
Arizona, Colorado, and some other states.
Since 1982, the U.S. and Canada have maintained an arrangement between the National Interagency
Coordination Center (NICC) in the U.S. and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) in
Canada to ensure efficient resource sharing during peak fire activity.
For more information on international assistance on wildfire support, visit: NIFC.gov -
International Fire Support.
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The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), located in Boise, Idaho, is the nation's support
center for wildland firefighting. Eight different agencies and organizations are part of NIFC
including, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, National Weather Service, U.S. Fire Administration, and
the National Association of State Foresters.
