Canada has faced the most destructive wildfires season ever on record.
The profound consequences inflicted upon the Canadian land and its wildlife are nothing short of devastating. Such was the magnitude of this disaster that vast billows of smoke managed to reach North America and Europe.
It is estimated that about 10 million hectares have burned since the beginning of the year due to thousands of fires. The burned area now equals the total size of Iceland and is an absolute record in the history of the country.
To tackle these unprecedented wildfires, Canada activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In response, more than 350 firefighters from France, Spain and Portugal helped the country in the fight against the wildfires.
For 2 weeks, the European teams worked independently throughout Quebec, the most affected region, focusing on the protection of urban settlements in the area.
This was the first time the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated in North America. In the words of Armando Silva, the team leader for the Portuguese team, “it is extremely important that we support any country, anywhere in the world”.
We embarked on a journey alongside these firefighters, documenting their tireless efforts and capturing this EU solidarity in action. In photos, learn more about their essential work.
