The hundred French firefighters who lend a hand in Quebec to fight forest fires – a first in the province – are already taking advantage of Quebec techniques, estimates a lieutenant who represents them. When new reinforcements arrive, she assures that France will remain alongside Quebec “as long as necessary”.
“For the most part, it’s our first time in Canada and we don’t have exactly the same work techniques, so it’s really very interesting to be able to work with the people from SOPFEU. They bring us their expertise, their equipment, and we do the same. We learn a lot from each other. We will stay as long as necessary, as long as we are needed, ”says Lieutenant Emma, who does not mention her last name, like most French soldiers since the attacks of 2015.
For her, the presence on Quebec soil of French firefighters, who left with a bang two days after learning of their deployment in the province, is an opportunity to learn a lot. This is also the first time that French firefighters have been called for help to fight forest fires in Quebec. The biggest difference, she explains, “is the adaptation to the terrain, but also to the vegetation and the environment which are not the same”.
In France, “when we attack fires, we do it mainly with forestry tankers, whereas here, the spaces are so large and the areas inaccessible by road that we therefore do everything by helicopter”, details the soldier. “It’s really a big change for our troops. Taking the helicopter, for many of us, was also a first”, also relates Lieutenant Emma.
Absolutely everything we learn here will be the subject of feedback in France. We will of course talk about things that could potentially be put in place with us.
Emma, Lieutenant of the French Civil Security
Every morning, his group begins its day with a briefing with the SOPFEU teams. “They send us to an area by helicopter. And in the end, even if our techniques are different, we have the same core business and we manage to work together to treat the fire, ”says the main person concerned.
-
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILITARY FORMATIONS OF THE FRENCH CIVIL SECURITY
A hundred French firefighters came to lend a hand in Quebec to fight the forest fires.
-
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILITARY FORMATIONS OF THE FRENCH CIVIL SECURITY
This is the first time that French sappers have been called to lend a hand in the Belle Province.
-
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILITARY FORMATIONS OF THE FRENCH CIVIL SECURITY
For most of these volunteers, this is their first experience of firefighting on board a helicopter.
-
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILITARY FORMATIONS OF THE FRENCH CIVIL SECURITY
The biggest difference for French firefighters, “is the adaptation to the terrain [du Québec]but also to the vegetation and the environment which are not the same,” we were told.
1/4
More responsibilities in sight?
At SOPFEU, spokesperson Stéphane Caron salutes the international support enjoyed by his team, which already has around 400 active firefighters fighting forest fires. “Europe is a first for them to come and help us. The French have a different command structure, but we are seeing with them how we can give them responsibility for taking charge of certain fires, ”explains Mr. Caron.
“It doesn’t happen as naturally as with the New Brunswick firefighters, for example. They were told: “Normétal is yours.” They are landed with a similar management team and support all decisions. There, we are looking with the French how we can do the same thing, with all that that implies, given our different working methods precisely, ”insists the spokesperson.
To date, the reinforcements come mainly from France, but also from the United States with some 135 people, more than 70 from New Brunswick and others from South Africa. On Wednesday, two hundred Spanish and Portuguese firefighters joined. All of this is in addition to the approximately 280 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members on the ground. “There are really a lot of people. We have a good strike force, ”says Stéphane Caron.
You have to understand that aid from countries that have the same command structure as us, such as the United States, South Africa, New Zealand or Australia, is no longer enough.
Stéphane Caron, SOPFEU spokesperson
“Canada is no longer able to help each other between provinces, so it is essential to broaden the pool of countries with which we collaborate. »
Mr. Caron believes that experiences like that of the current forest fires will make it possible “to encourage more exchanges” between Quebec and the countries of the European Union, in particular. “In the last year, we have already started discussions, and that’s what allows us to get so much help today. »
To the French firefighters, the spokesperson also sends a clear message. “Of course, at SOPFEU, we would very much like to return the favor. We do not wish them fires, obviously, but if they need help later, we will be there, ”he concludes.