The Prince of Wales engaged in a conversation with representatives from the Canadian fire services, discussing the aftermath of Canada's worst wildfire season in history.
Prince William connected with six individuals from various regions in Canada, including Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. These discussions took place in the wake of a devastating wildfire season that witnessed the destruction of 18.5 million hectares of land by over 6,500 wildfires.
Prince William initiated the call by inquiring about the experiences of the fire services personnel, emphasizing that the widespread wildfires were a subject of concern in the United Kingdom.
Kim Connors, the Executive Director of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, conveyed to the prince that records had been shattered from coast to coast to coast (representing the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic regions) in the past year. He added that the other participants on the call had been deeply involved in battling the wildfires "all summer long."
Jabee Wu, the Fire Crew Leader at Wood Buffalo National Park, shared that, in her seven years as a firefighter, she had never encountered such a situation. She described the fires as exceptionally large and unmanageable, especially challenging because they struck close to her home. Her town had to be evacuated, and she spoke of the difficulty of fulfilling her duty to serve and remain in the town during those trying times.
Prince William expressed his gratitude to the fire services personnel, acknowledging the crucial nature of their work. He also envisioned the immense appreciation felt by the townspeople for their efforts in protecting homes and livelihoods.
Kiah Vail, the Crew Leader for the Northwest Territories, mentioned that they faced 11 fires, with one town nearly obliterated. Ali Gillis from the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables pointed out that an unusually dry April and May had contributed to destructive fires across the province.
The Prince of Wales extended his gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much, all of you and your teams, for a tremendous job this season. Frankly, it must have been terrifying at times. You must have felt completely out of control, completely swamped, relying on each other, relying on the equipment, and the training you've undergone."
He expressed hope that future wildfire seasons would be less destructive and encouraged everyone to support one another and prioritize their mental well-being. In conclusion, he thanked them for their courage and determination in navigating the challenging season.
You can watch the full video of Prince William's conversation with Canadian fire services personnel. Photo by The Big Lunch, Wikimedia commons.