Canada And The U.S. Sign Wildfire Agreement. Wildfire Cancer Research And Tracking Reinstated?

And... a Rodeo in Pennsylvania.

Canada’s and the United States’ political leaders have been sparring in the media lately. Canada's new Prime Minister will be elected today. Good luck; I hope it goes smoothly. But behind the scenes, the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) in the U.S. and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) have been finalizing their 2025 CANADA/UNITED STATES RECIPROCAL FOREST FIRE FIGHTING ARRANGEMENT.

Today, both sides announced that they have finalized the resource-sharing plans and firefighter position crosswalks for the 2025 season. This process helps streamline cross-border movement and resource allocation between the two countries.

This process consolidates personnel information, resource and equipment tracking, aviation support, reimbursement, and more. This cooperative agreement, which dates back to 1982, continues to be used for resource sharing during peak fire season. The two neighbors are at least still cooperating on wildfire response.

Canada had a few fires across its provinces this weekend. Yesterday, this fire outside Squamish, B.C., was deemed to be human-caused. It was pretty clear that it started off a road in a logging cut.

Squamish B.C. wildfire: Subscriber submitted

There has been a lot of news about firefighter cancer research and funding getting cut and the National Firefighter Cancer Registry, at the very least, being put on hold. As of writing this, they are not taking new enrollees into the registry. There have been concerns that NIOSH will no longer continue this cancer work for firefighters.

Last night, HHS Secretary Kennedy put out a statement saying that critical NIOSH programs for firefighters will continue on.

Firefighters are among the most courageous and selfless people in our society. They stand as a living testament to the principle that public service is the highest calling. Firefighter health and safety programs remain a top priority for HHS. As the agency continues to streamline its operations, critical services of NIOSH will remain intact.

HHS Secretary Kennedy

A reassuring statement, but we shall see if these things are actually reinstated. I know multiple people who were longtime wildland and structure firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer; some recently passed. So this is a big deal and should be a priority as the Secretary says it will be. Time will tell.

Lastly, it sounds like Pennsylvania had a rodeo of a fire this last week. I highlight this story because these early fires can sneak up on folks and get them in tight spots. Everyone is roaring and ready to go, fuels may be deceptively dry, and that Swiss cheese model can stack up fast.

As of this morning, the fire in the Michaux State Forest in Cumberland County has burned over 2,700 acres. I have spoken to a few folks out there now that it has calmed down quite a bit. But this fire ripped when it was going, caused evacuations, an IWI, and gave the folks on the ground some considerable issues.

The down and dirty of things that occurred: