Quebec Wildfire Protection Agency Presents Plaque of Appreciation to Korea Forest Service for Wildfire Response Cooperation

The Quebec Wildfire Protection Agency (SOPFEU) presented a plaque of appreciation to the Korea Forest Service. This gesture was made to express gratitude for the assistance received from the Korea Forest Service during the large-scale wildfires that occurred in Quebec, Canada, in 2023. Notably, the plaque was delivered in person by a local official who visited Korea.

Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the wildfire suppression commendation ceremony in Quebec, Canada. Provided by Korea Forest Service

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 18th that Sylvain Guitard, International Cooperation and Partnership Officer at SOPFEU, and Damien Pereira, Head of the Quebec Government Office in Korea, visited the Korea Forest Service to present the plaque of appreciation.

SOPFEU is a non-profit organization established by the Quebec government and industry for the purpose of wildfire prevention, detection, and suppression.

Previously, when large-scale wildfires broke out in Quebec, Canada, in 2023, the Korea Forest Service dispatched 70 wildfire suppression specialists, including aerial firefighters and special disaster response teams, as an overseas emergency relief team for about one month. The dispatch was based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on forest cooperation signed between the Korea Forest Service and Canada in September 2014.

The dispatched personnel built firebreaks at the large wildfire sites, used thermal imaging drones to detect and block underground fire spread at an early stage, and carried out urban defense operations in coordination with the U.S. team.

The plaque of appreciation was presented in recognition of the Korea Forest Service's support for wildfire suppression by dispatching the overseas emergency relief team. The presentation ceremony was also attended by Kim Manju, Director of the Korea Forest Aviation Headquarters. At the time of the large-scale wildfires in Canada, Kim served as Director of the Wildfire Prevention Division at the Korea Forest Service and led the overseas emergency relief team on site in Canada.

Nam Songhee, Director General for International Forest Cooperation at the Korea Forest Service, stated, "Canada is an important partner that works closely with Korea in the forestry sector, from wildfire response to promoting the use of timber. We hope that both countries can continue to maintain this cooperative relationship in the future."