DNR Staff Report
Minnesota firefighters are assisting in Canada and areas of the United States.
Minnesota has three 20-person crews of firefighters working on fires in Canada. Two crews and the state’s two CL-215 water scoopers are in Manitoba. The third crew is assisting firefighting efforts in Ontario.
Minnesota has an agreement through the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact with Michigan, Wisconsin and the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba to provide assistance with firefighting personnel and resources when conditions warrant. Because the compact is between the states and provinces, the crews are made up of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employees and seasonal firefighters.
Canada, like the western United States, is experiencing an unusually active fire season.
So far this summer, Minnesota firefighters have supported firefighting efforts in 11 states, through the Minnesota Incident Command System, an inter-agency emergency response group.
More than 200 people, including four 20-person initial attack firefighting crews have been part of that effort. The crews worked in Wyoming, Colorado, Missouri and Montana. Minnesota wildfire personnel have also assisted on fires in Arizona, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Minnesota has provided incident command, operations, logistics and planning resources in positions such as dispatch, security, fire behavior and radio communications. Out-of-state assignments are generally 14 days, with extensions available if conditions warrant.
Minnesota resources become available for firefighting and emergency response in other states and provinces when fire danger decreases in our state.
MNICS includes the Minnesota DNR, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency management.
