Wicked.

This is coolbert:

“There is just something, I think, incredibly reassuring to Canadians when the Canadian Armed Forces show up and men and women in uniform are out in their communities and they’re sandbagging and helping people evacuate and get to safety,” - Blair, Canadian Minister of Defense.

Forest fires Canada often rage on a Biblical scale, in rugged and difficult terrain. Hard to fight unless means available.

"Canadian military's ability to battle forest fires will be limited this year, top general warns"

"Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre called the use of military personnel in fighting wildfires in Canada, in some instances, 'wickedly wasteful,'"

From https://nationalpost.com | David Pugliese  •  Ottawa Citizen | May 27, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/mrwbx7uv

"The Canadian military’s ability to help battle forest fires will be limited this year because of reduced readiness and the need to send troops to Latvia, warns the country’s top general."

Canadians have committed the NATO mission to the Baltic nations about 2,000 troops. That is slightly less than a regiment of soldiers, fully manned and at TO & E strength readiness.

May I remind you that during the Second World War the Canadian [Canada at the time had a much smaller and less wealthier population] were able to place an Army sized contingent into the field. Consisting of multiple Corps. 

I would not deny that fighting a forest fire is a good team building experience for a military unit of whatever type. But given the world crisis as it now exists give emphasis to where emphasis is most needed.

That major mission of the military at all times to break things and kill people! This must not be forgotten!

coolbert.