40 Quebec forest firefighters to be deployed to Nova Scotia

This photo, taken on Wednesday, Aug. 27 2025, in the Long Lake area of the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, provides an overview of the forest fire near Paradise Lake. (Province of Nova Scotia)

Forty Quebec forest firefighters will be deployed to Nova Scotia starting Saturday to help battle the forest fires raging in the province.

The Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) announced in a news release on Friday morning that the firefighters, along with two SOPFEU representatives and a technical specialist, will travel to Nova Scotia for a 14-day mission.

The province’s Minister of Emergency Management, Kim Masland, announced on Thursday that Nova Scotia’s largest forest fire destroyed 20 homes in the Annapolis Valley over the weekend. Dry winds have fanned the flames of the Long Lake fire, which continues to rage uncontrollably.

Since the beginning of 2025, Quebec has lent a hand in fighting forest fires in California, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick.

“This is a record year for assistance outside Quebec,” SOPFEU said in a news release.

“The stability of the situation in Quebec allows SOPFEU to support other provinces without compromising its ability to respond within Quebec.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 29, 2025.