Nova Scotia firefighters to help battle wildfires in Alberta

A team of firefighters from across Nova Scotia will be flying to Alberta on Tuesday night to help battle wildfires in the western province.

Fifteen firefighters and one fire manager will join five firefighters from Prince Edward Island, said NovaScotia'sDepartment of Natural Resources. The crew will be deployed for twoweeks.

"The Department of Natural Resources has well-trained and skilled wildfire fighters who are ready and keen to respond to Alberta's request for help in its time of need, just as it and other areas send help here when we need it," Zach Churchill, Minister of Natural Resources, said in a statement.

"I am proud of our crew's commitment and we all wish them well while working under very tough conditions out west."

This is the second time this summer the province is sending a crew to assist with firefighting efforts in western Canada.

Alberta's government says more than 1,700 people are fighting the wildfires in that province, where there were 93 active fires as of Tuesday morning.

Wildlife officials there say the Nova Scotia crews will be stationedin northern Alberta and moving around as needed.

The Nova Scotia government has already sent equipment including pumps and hoses to Saskatchewan. As of Monday, there were 112 fires burning in that province, the Saskatchewan Environment Ministry said.

More than 13,000 people have been forced from their homes due to northern Saskatchewan blazes, according to the Red Cross.