MNC firefighter sent to help Canada's wildfire emergency

Mid North Coast firefighter Matt Model, from Bonny Hills, was deployed earlier this month alongside 54 NSW firefighting specialists to support Canadian authorities battling more than 200 wildfires across the country, which have already burned more than two million hectares. 

Model, who is as Fire and Operations Team Leader at Forestry Corporation, has taken up the position of Divisional Supervisor. This is his second trip to Canada, having completed a 42-day firefighting deployment there two years ago. 

“I’m pretty lucky to be given a second call up to represent Forestry Corporation of NSW and Australia on another firefighting deployment to assist our friends in Canada in what’s shaping up to be another big fire season across the provinces,” Model said.

Australian assistance to Canada forms part of an international support effort to help authorities manage severe fire conditions. 

The recent deployment of Australian firefighters followed a formal request for assistance through international firefighting agreements and highlights the strong collaboration between Australia and Canada in emergency response.

Canadian firefighters assisted on the Mid North Coast and across NSW during the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires. 

Thumbnail: (L) Matt Model working in the Incident Management Team (IMT) (R) Aerial shots of fires in Alberta, Canada. Images supplied: Forestry Corporation of NSW.