Published on Monday, July 14, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A contingent of 100 Costa Rican wildland firefighters is assisting Canadian crews in containing massive wildfires that have scorched millions of acres across the country.

The National Emergency Commission reported that the Costa Rican team has been deployed for a month in Alberta, where authorities say more than 200 active wildfires have already consumed over 4.5 million hectares since May.

Costa Rican crews are reinforcing Alberta Wildfire operations, focusing on the Bison Lake wildfire with three brigades, while two additional brigades are assigned to the Red Earth East Complex, which encompasses four separate blazes.

This deployment followed a formal request from the Canadian government, made through its embassy, for specialized wildland firefighting support in Alberta.

Canada has raised its National Preparedness Level to 5, the highest alert, signaling that domestic firefighting resources are stretched to the limit and extraordinary measures are required.

In response, the country has been mobilizing international crews through cooperation agreements, with Costa Rica among the countries providing support.

This marks the fourth Costa Rican firefighting team sent to Canada since 2023. Under the agreement, Canada covers all costs for the visiting team, including airfare, international insurance, equipment, meals, and lodging.

Meanwhile, Canadian media report that multiple wildfire complexes continue to burn across northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Manitoba has declared a state of emergency, ordering mass evacuations. Roughly 17,000 residents, including those in the city of Flin Flon near the Saskatchewan border, were told to leave their homes.

In Alberta, another 12,000 people were ordered to evacuate Swan Hills on Monday, May 26. A massive wildfire complex is raging near Chipewyan Lake, about 80 miles west of Fort McMurray, with additional fires threatening Red Earth Creek and several First Nations communities. Officials say these regions are seeing some of the most intense early-season fire activity in recent memory.

The fires have also triggered severe air quality warnings, with levels ranging from “Very Unhealthy” to “Hazardous” in several communities. Energy infrastructure is at risk as well, including oil and gas production sites near Foster Creek, operated by Cenovus Energy, and communities in the Bonnyville–Cold Lake region of Alberta.

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Have you heard about any initiatives your nation is taking to support Canada during this wildfire emergency? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com