U.S. Forest Service Says It Remains Ready to Assist Canada With Wildfires

U.S. Forest Service stated it remains prepared to respond to Canadian requests for wildfire assistance despite budget cuts and agency restructuring. C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar. Parmar said cooperation on firefighting will continue regardless of trade tensions between the two countries.

"There's a lot of politics that goes on between the United States and Canada today," Parmar told CBC News. U.S. Forest Service received $37 million less in funding this fiscal year compared with 2025. , to Salt Lake City, Utah, and closing several facilities.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a March statement that the changes aim to return common sense to government operations. U.S. Department of Agriculture had previously described the Forest Service's current footprint as larger than current funding levels can support.

Cross-Border Cooperation The U.S.

Forest Service national press team said budget changes do not affect firefighting capacity or limit support under existing agreements. C. Wildfire Service will remain unchanged. Parmar noted that much of British Columbia is already experiencing drought conditions, which could make the upcoming fire season more challenging.

The United States and Canada have a history of mutual assistance during major wildfire seasons.