OLYMPIA, WA – More than 200 firefighters from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have been sent to Canada to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The deployment includes nine hand crews—eight of them contracted—and a combination of DNR’s own 20- and 10-person teams. A DNR engine strike team and supervisory personnel were also part of the mobilization, which continued through the past weekend.

The assistance is being provided under the Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement, a mutual aid pact among western states and Canadian provinces. The compact enables participating agencies to share personnel and equipment during peak fire activity.

“Regional cooperation like this is a key component of our fire response capabilities,” said George Geissler, DNR’s State Forester and Deputy Supervisor for Wildland Fire Management. “Just last month, Canadian crews supported efforts here in Washington. Now we’re returning the support.”

Washington crews are also contributing to a Northwest Compact incident management team that will be operating in Alberta in coordination with the Washington State Fire Service.

Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove emphasized the importance of cross-border support in wildfire response. “These fires don’t stop at the border, and neither should our ability to respond,” he said. “This deployment reflects the strong working relationship we have with our neighbors to the north.”

DNR confirmed that despite the out-of-state deployment, staffing levels remain sufficient to respond to fire activity within Washington. The agency noted that human activity continues to be the leading cause of wildfires in the state and encouraged residents to follow safety recommendations available at dnr.wa.gov/WildfirePrevention.