Hundreds of out-of-province firefighters arriving to help fight wildfires in B.C.

“Mexico, especially, has been a wonderful partner for us. We’ve seen many deployments of their crews to Canada over the years,” BC Wildfire Service information officer Jean Strong told CFJC Today. ” Of course, speaking Spanish, there are some logistical pieces that we need to work with, but they come in a get a briefing on everything related to the BC Wildfire Service, even if they’ve worked in B.C. before.”

This influx of crews and resources is coordinated through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC). The BC Wildfire Service reached out to CIFFC in advance of anticipated increase in wildfire activity, to see what kind of help might be available.

“It depends on what pressures these agencies are facing at home,” Strong added. “There are other agencies we’ve received help from in the past that are still dealing with their own significant wildfires, so they’re not able to export resources at this time. That’s where we then turn to international supports like Mexico.”

A number of these out-of-province firefighters are expected to be deployed across the Cariboo Fire Centre as the Pear Lake fire is threatening areas around the Village of Clinton. Others are also expected to be sent to fight fires near Boston Bar or in southeastern B.C. around the Kimberley area.

Decisions on where to send these crews are made by the BC Wildfire Service, as these incoming firefighters will help relieve provincial firefighters as many of them have been pushed to their limit.

“The crews are already working in hard conditions on the best of days, but when we see that extreme heat and aggressive fire behaviour, it’s even harder for them to be on the ground,” Strong added.

“That’s part of bringing in these additional resources to allow our crews to have time to go back, rest and have a reset with their families and be refreshed and safe when they’re back out on the fire line again.”

There are currently over 1,000 firefighters on the ground across B.C., along with hundreds of planes and helicopters as well as structure protection and heavy equipment teams. A number of municipal firefighters have also stepped up to help, and many of those men and women have dropped everything to go help out on the front lines.

“We’ve seen an especially strong level of support from Vancouver Island heading into the Cariboo Fire Centre with the deployment of rapid response teams,” Strong said. “Of course, they leave enough resources at home in their own communities to be able to protect them but they’ve been very generous in sending resources into the Interior to the communities that need the support.”

For the latest on the wildfire front in British Columbia, go here.

by Victor Kaisar

Hundreds of out-of-province firefighters arriving to help fight wildfires in B.C.

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