An Oak Bluffs resident was one of 11 Massachusetts wildland firefighters who went to Canada this week to help fight ongoing wildfires in Quebec.
State Department of Recreation and Conservation firefighter Charles Uchendu will spend the next two weeks working with Canadian firefighters to suppress the more than 100 fires that have been ravaging forests in the province since early this month.
The fires have had an impact across the northeast, even lowering air quality here on the Vineyard.
Mr. Uchendu, who currently does not have access to internet and was unable to do an interview this week, will help build fire breaks, contain the fires and protect buildings.
In a press release from Gov. Maura Healey’s office, several state officials said climate change is fueling these intense fires.
“We feel the effects of the climate crisis every day from the extreme heat to droughts to the smoke polluting our air,” said Lt. governor Kim Driscoll. “We appreciate the men and women from Massachusetts that will join the team fighting wildfires in Quebec… making our environment safer for all of us.”
Mr. Uchendu and the rest of the firefighting crew gathered Thursday morning at the DCR’s Bureau of Forestry and Fire Control building in Carlisle for a sendoff from governor Healey, lieutenant governor Driscoll and energy and environmental affairs secretary Rebecca Tepper.
