Macron announces France is sending 100 firefighters to Quebec
France will be sending firefighters to aid Quebec as the province continues to battle massive forest fires.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted Sunday that France is “united” in the desire to help.
“A hundred of our firefighters are preparing to fight the flames alongside their Quebec comrades. Experts are also mobilized,” he tweeted in French. “Canadian friends, reinforcements are coming.”
“Merci cousins!” Quebec Premier Francois Legault tweeted in response.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also thanked the French president on behalf of Canadians, tweeting in French,"Our two countries are the closest friends and strongest partners, and this relationship is more important than ever."
There are currently 141 forest fires burning in Quebec, with the military gearing up to help fight the fires alongside fire crews. Quebec forest fire prevention organization SOPFEU has 475 firefighters tackling the blazes.
More than 10,000 people have been forced from their homes so far due to evacuations in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region, which borders Ontario, as well as the North Shore community of Sept-Iles and its outskirts, and residents in Lebel-sur-Quevillon.
Although forest fires are not uncommon in the province at this time of year, this is a significantly more severe start to fire season than usual, with federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair calling the situation “unprecedented” on Thursday.
Canada has agreements to share firefighters with the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Hundreds and other experts had arrived to Canada from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to help with forest fires. Most have been deployed to Alberta thus far.
Alberta and Nova Scotia have also suffered massive forest fires recently. The fires in Nova Scotia are largely contained as of Sunday, and a state of emergency that Alberta has been under since early May is expiring Sunday.
RISKIN REPORTS
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

PM Trudeau apologizes for Parliament's recognition of Nazi veteran during Zelenskyy visit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered 'unreserved apologies' Wednesday for Parliament's recognition of a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War and said the Canadian government has reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the wake of the incident.
Feds, Quebec set to make major EV battery production announcement Thursday
The governments of Quebec and Canada are set to make a major announcement about the electric vehicle manufacturing supply chain, and rumours have been swirling for weeks a Swedish battery developer and manufacturer could be setting up shop in McMasterville, which is about 30km from Montreal.
IED believed to be on vehicle in Barrie, Ont. parking lot explodes, sparking evacuations and road closures
Police have locked down and evacuated a section of Barrie, Ont., Wednesday morning in the city's west end amid unconfirmed reports of an explosion.
Judge Chutkan denies Trump's request to recuse herself in federal election subversion case
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said Wednesday she won't recuse herself from Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case in Washington, rejecting the former president's claims that her past comments raise doubts about whether she can be fair.
Researchers say action could have prevented thousands of premature cancer deaths in women in 2020
Prevention could have prevented nearly seven in 10 premature cancer deaths among women worldwide in 2020, new research has found.
Hyundai, Kia recall over 600,000 cars in Canada, drivers told to park away from buildings due to fire risk
Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall for several vehicle models and are urging drivers to park away from buildings due to the risk that the issue could start a fire.
Over 50 arrested after mobs ransacked Philadelphia stores. Dozens of liquor outlets are shut down
Dozens of people faced criminal charges Wednesday after a night of social media-fueled mayhem in which groups of thieves, apparently working together, smashed their way into stores in several areas of Philadelphia, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, authorities said.
'ET Canada' cancelled by Corus Entertainment, blames 'challenging' advertising market
The studio lights are going dark at 'ET Canada.' Corus Entertainment says it has decided to cease production on the long-running Canadian arts and entertainment news magazine after 18 seasons.
Police agencies deny jurisdictional fight delayed Hardeep Nijjar murder investigation
Law enforcement agencies have denied allegations that a dispute over jurisdiction delayed the investigation into the murder of Surrey, B.C., Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.