The Wildfire Management Branch has sent personnel to the Northwest Territories to aid in fire suppression efforts, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.

Two, 20-person Unit Crews and an agency representative from the Coastal Fire Centre and Southeast Fire Centre departed Monday evening for Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories.

Personnel and resources from the Wildfire Management Branch are also currently deployed to Alaska and Yukon. Current conditions in B.C. make it possible to share resources and the Wildfire Management Branch is glad to lend assistance whenever possible. Personnel can be called back at any time if they are needed in B.C.

The request for assistance was made through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which co-ordinates the mutual sharing of firefighting resources between B.C. and other jurisdictions. Costs associated with deployment are covered by the receiving jurisdictions under the Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement.

Quote:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

"B.C.'s wildland firefighters are recognized as the world's best. We're pleased to be able to lend assistance to other jurisdictions when we are able to do so."

Quick Facts:

• Agency representative: Acts as the link between the deployed crews and the Wildfire Management Branch.

• Unit Crew: A 20-person sustained action crew that typically works on large fires and can be self-sufficient in the field for up to 72 hours at a time.

Learn More:

For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions in B.C., visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

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Media Contact:

Kevin Skrepnek
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre
Office: 250 312-3051