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Mass. firefighters on standby for assistance to Quebec as Canadian wildfires rage

By Bryan Lambert, Boston 25 News Staff

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Blows South Creating Hazy Conditions On East Coast NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 06: The sun over New York City takes on a red appearance on a hazy morning resulting from Canadian wildfires on June 06, 2023 in New York City. Over 100 wildfires are burning in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and Quebec causing air quality health alerts for New York State and parts of New England. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

By Bryan Lambert, Boston 25 News Staff

As wildfires continue to rage across Canada, blanketing the U.S. East Coast and Midwest in an unhealthy haze, officials of one Province have reached out regarding the availability of firefighters in Massachusetts.

Although no Bay State firefighters have been mobilized yet, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation tells Boston 25 News they are weighing the logistics of sending resources as Massachusetts withstands its own active fire season.

Quebec’s appeal for help comes through the Northeast Forest Fire Compact, according to the DCR.

“With the active fire season thus far in Massachusetts and other states, assessment of availability is prioritized by our own strategic needs first.  The compact provides a collective and collaborative approach to sharing resources,” a DCR spokesperson told Boston 25 News.

Established in 1949, the Northeast Forest Fire Compact is an agreement between seven U.S. states and five Canadian provinces to, when possible, share resources to combat large-scale forest fires in the Northeast of North America.

Massachusetts previously lent assistance to Quebec during large forest fires in 1995 and 2010.

About 9.4 million acres have already burned as of Thursday morning, according to Reuters.

More than 11,000 Quebec residents have had to evacuate their homes.

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