Forests
VICTORIA - Twenty-eight more B.C. Wildfire Management Branch personnel depart for Ontario today, while 123 returned home over the weekend.
This 10th turnover leaves 126 of B.C.'s firefighters in northern Ontario where a return to seasonal weather conditions is helping fire crews make progress on large fires. The latest deployment consists primarily of initial attack crews that specialize in responding to any new fire starts while they are small.
This year continues to be B.C.'s slowest in at least ten, allowing the Wildfire Management Branch to send a record number of forest firefighting resources to other jurisdictions. A total of 883 personnel to Ontario this summer, in addition to deployments to Alberta and Alaska earlier in 2011, mean that nearly 2,000 firefighters have been sent out-of-province under cost-sharing and recovery agreements.
Warm, dry conditions in the south-central and southeastern portions on the province have been considered, and enough resources remain in B.C. to respond appropriately to any activity that may result.
Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling *5555 on your cellphone or toll-free to 1 800 663-5555.
Learn More:
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: www.bcforestfireinfo.gov.bc.ca
You can also follow the latest wildfire news -
On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo
On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
Media Contact:
Radha Fisher
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
250 312-3051
