Six Cdn Navy members on shore in Turkey fight fire, evacuate burning building

ANTALYA, Turkey – The federal government says six Royal Canadian Navy members sprang into action to battle a fire while dining on shore in Turkey, dousing flames and evacuating a burning building.

National Defence says the crew members of HMCS Toronto were eating at a restaurant during a port visit in Antalya on Friday when they spotted the blaze.

Acting quickly, the group — bolstered by two Air Force members — grabbed a fire hose, rigged it in the street outside the burning structure and sprayed it with water, snuffing out the fire.

The military says they also evacuated the building before local fire and police arrived on the scene.

It says HMCS Toronto was in Antalya for a short port visit after participating in a Turkish-led anti-submarine warfare exercise in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

That exercise was part of NATO-supporting military activities taken in response to Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine.