The B.C. government has leased a 2.176-hectare plot of land from the City of Merritt to construct an expanded Merritt Fire Zone office and training centre for the Wildfire Management Branch.

The new building will be located at 4476 Airport Rd., just south of the Merritt Airport's runway. This facility will improve the ministry's firefighting and monitoring capabilities in the Merritt area, one of the largest fire suppression zones in the province. So far this year in the Merritt Fire Zone, the Wildfire Management Branch has responded to 107 fires that covered 653 hectares.

The new training centre will offer classroom instruction and opportunities for recruits to develop firefighting skills in conditions similar to those encountered in the field. The facility will run the annual "boot camp" for new firefighters. Current Wildfire Management Branch emergency response staff will also train at the centre.

Ministry staff have been reviewing a series of conceptual drawings, and a final decision on the building's architectural design is expected later this fall. It's anticipated that the new facility will be operational before the 2013 fire season.

The 25-year lease for the Airport Road property was signed on Sept. 21. The government will have an option to renew it for another 25 years.

Quick Facts:

• The Merritt Fire Zone office is home to five full-time staff and 57 seasonal staff, including fire officers, four three-person initial attack crews and two 20-person sustained action unit crews.

• Another 20-person sustained action unit crew, based in Princeton, also reports to the Merritt Fire Zone office.

• Wildfire crews fight more than 2,000 wildfires throughout British Columbia each year.

• About 92 per cent of all wildfires in B.C. are contained at less than four hectares.

• When not fighting wildfires, fire crews assist with local fuel management activities.

Learn More:

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations: http://www.gov.bc.ca/for

Wildfire Management Branch: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

Media Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261