By Doug Collins

More help on the way to fight wildfires

Aug 7, 2017 | 9:42 AM

KAMLOOPS — More help is on its way to help fight the over 120 wildfires still burning in the province.

While the most problematic fire is still the Elephant Hill fire, which continues to grow on three fronts, Chief Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek says there are many others that need attention, and all available resources are being mustered.

Skrepnek says with no relief in sight in the weather forecast, the Wildfire emergency is expected to continue over the next few weeks. 

More international personnel are on their way to help. In a news release, Skrepnek says “over the next week, more than 400 firefighting staff from New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and the United States will join over 3,800 personnel currently working througout the province to respond to the ongoing situation.”

He says this will be a mix of specialized support staff, which will include incident management teams, and highly trained and experienced wildland firefighting crews.  They will join over 3,150 personnel from B.C., including more than 1,450 contract personnel as well as over 630 other out-of-province personnel.

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Skrepnek says the hot and dry weather conditions have kept a persistently high-to-extreme fire danger rating throughout the province. More starts could happen throughout the next few days because of unsettled weather, which could bring lightning. 

Doug Donaldson, B.C.’s Minister of Forests, says “Given the unprecedented nature of the B.C. Wildfires, we appreciate the assistance our international partners are able to provide.”

For the latest evacuation orders and alerts, and the latest information, click on the Wildfire Information link at the top right of our home page- CFJC Today.