British Columbia's Wildfire Management Branch is sending 41 firefighting personnel to Idaho to assist with fire suppression efforts there.

One agency representative and 40 unit crew personnel from the Northwest, Prince George and Coastal fire centres will depart from Merritt on Thursday, Aug. 22 for Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. One airtanker group, consisting of two airtankers and a birddog aircraft, was deployed earlier this week to Boise, Idaho.

This deployment follows similar missions earlier this year to Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Quebec and Alaska. Given the current and forecasted provincial fire situation, sufficient personnel and resources remain in B.C. to respond appropriately to any fire activity. Fire crews can be deployed for up to 14 days, but can be recalled at any time.

The request for assistance in Idaho was made through the Northwest Compact, which co-ordinates the mutual sharing of firefighting resources between jurisdictions in western Canada and the northwestern United States.

The airtanker group currently stationed in Boise was requested through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fighting Centre. Costs associated with these deployments are covered by the receiving jurisdiction.

Quick Facts:

• Unit crew: A 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.

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

• Northwest Compact: This agreement allows for mutual resource sharing with Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Learn More:

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