Press Releases
07/17/2026
DEEP Deploys Wildland Fire Crew to Support Canadian Wildfire Efforts
Connecticut Joins Maine and New Hampshire to Support Wildfire Efforts in Quebec
(HARTFORD) – Today, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Forestry Division mobilized a 6-person wildland firefighting crew to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Quebec, Canada. The six from the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) joined wildland firefighters from Maine and New Hampshire as part of an Interagency crew under the Northeastern Forest Fire Compact.
The crew departed from DEEP’s Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough today, July 17th, 2026. This deployment marks the second crew assignment for CIFC members this wildfire season. The first crew, 19 from CIFC and 1 from Rhode Island, is currently supporting efforts at the Salmon wildfire in Oregon.
This Interagency crew will travel to Val-d’Or, Quebec. The smoky skies in Connecticut this week were caused by fires in Ontario Province and Minnesota; the crew is not traveling to those locations. However, the crew’s efforts are vital to reducing the overall impact of Canadian wildfires, as the strain on wildfire-fighting resources is contributing to larger, longer-lasting fires.
Crew members include a mix of full-time DEEP staff and trained “call-when-needed” wildland firefighters who are certified to national wildland firefighting standards. All crew members volunteer for these assignments and have received training in wildfire suppression tactics, safety, and incident command.
"We are happy to assist our international neighbors in their time of need. Given the recent poor air quality in Connecticut, which is directly a result of Canadian wildfires, this deployment in particular is a reminder of the regional impact these wildfires can have,” said Acting DEEP Commissioner Emma Cimino. "We are grateful to every firefighter who volunteered for this assignment, and we wish them a safe and successful deployment in Quebec."
DEEP’s Forestry Division coordinates the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew, for which it maintains a roster of agency staff members and private individuals, many of whom are associated with local fire departments and have been certified to fight wildfires. Crew members must complete a rigorous training program, participate in an annual physical capacity test, and complete refresher training.
Connecticut maintains this firefighting capability to participate in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Under this program, trained personnel from other states and countries are available to assist Connecticut in the event of a fire emergency or other natural disaster, in return for Connecticut's support when needed. All state agency expenses directly associated with these deployments are reimbursed to the State in full by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service.
More information on the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew.
More information on the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact.
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.Communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110