VICTORIA - Due to elevated wildfire activity in British Columbia, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson was able to confirm that 70 personnel will be arriving from Ontario to assist with B.C.’s firefighting efforts.

As a result of the continued extreme and high fire danger ratings in regions throughout B.C., fire bans have been implemented around the province, including the “Fog Zone” on the western coast of Vancouver Island, effective at noon on Wednesday, July 8. The use of fireworks is prohibited.

Sixty-three sustained-action firefighters and seven other specialized personnel from Ontario will arrive in Abbotsford and Cranbrook today. They will be deployed throughout the Coastal Fire Centre and Southeast Fire Centre, based on current fire activity and projected need.

In addition, two amphibious skimming aircraft, one birddog aircraft and an air attack officer from Ontario will arrive in Kamloops today.

These requests for assistance were made through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which co-ordinates the mutual sharing of firefighting resources between B.C. and other Canadian jurisdictions. Costs associated with these requests will be covered by B.C. under the Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement, which allows for the movement of firefighting resources throughout Canada.

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Update on fire activity and impacts

There were 23 new fires in B.C. yesterday. The Province is cautioning all British Columbians to be diligent with fire safety and report all wildfires to authorities. There are now 184 active fires within the province (f these, 18 are active fires of note), with eight evacuation alerts/orders currently in effect.

The BC Wildfire Service has responded to 887 wildfires so far this season. As of July 7, approximately 40 homes in the province were on Evacuation Order with approximately 920 homes on Evacuation Alert. These numbers will fluctuate as orders and alerts are put into place and/or rescinded.

Evacuation Orders currently exist in the following areas:

• Boulder Creek Wildfire, northwest of Pemberton Meadows
• Sechelt Mine fire, issued for Carlson Point, affecting 18 homes
• One home in Harrogate, north of Highway 95 near Brisco

Evacuation Alerts exist in these areas:

• Tsulquate Creek Fire, northwest of Port Hardy
• Sitkum Creek Fire, north of Kootenay Lake, between Sitkum and Duhamel Creeks
• East of Lake Koocanusa, east of Baynes Lake and Highway 93
• Harrogate, north of Highway 95, between Harrogate and Brisco
• Petitot River fire, northeast of Fort Nelson

For all current Evacuation Alerts and Orders in B.C., see: www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca

Quote:

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

“Because wildfire activity is increasing throughout the province, our firefighting capacity is becoming challenged. We are very grateful for the help we are receiving from our partners in Ontario.”

Martin Mars water bomber:

Government has a standing offer in place that allows for use of the Martin Mars water bomber in certain circumstances. B.C. is required to give Coulson Group three days’ notice to use the Mars. It is currently not available for government’s use from July 20 to July 31.

Due to its size, the Mars water bomber can land only on and scoop up water from about 113 bodies of water in B.C., as opposed to the 1,700 lakes that the skimmers currently in use can access. The Martin Mars cannot drop long-term fire retardant, which is critical in B.C.’s terrain and firefighting conditions as fire retardant slows the growth of wildfires and allows ground crews to safely contain them.

For more information on the Martin Mars and B.C.’s airtanker fleet, see: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/factsheet-bcs-airtanker-fleet-and-the-martin-mars

Penalties for open burning:

Failure to abide by the Wildfire Act, including open burning restrictions, can result in a $345 fine, an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, a fine of up to $100,000 and/or one year in jail.

Wildfire smoke advisories and air quality status:

The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with regional health authorities, has issued air quality advisories in several areas of the province - including the Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky Corridor, south and east Vancouver Island, parts of the Interior and the Fort St. John area.

The advisories are a result of high concentrations of fine particulate matter due to smoke from wildfires in B.C. The air quality has improved in most parts of the province overnight, though levels continue to be elevated in the Whistler area. The advisories are expected to remain in place until weather conditions change.

New Wildfire Smoke Advisories were issued today for these areas:

• Sunshine Coast and surrounding areas affecting Powell River to Gibsons/Langdale.
• East and South Coast of Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Victoria, and including the interior community of Port Alberni
• A Smoky Skies Advisory was issued for the Okanagan, Similkameen and Boundary areas.
• A Smoky Skies Advisory was issued for the Thompson, Fraser Canyon, Nicola and Shuswap areas.

If you see or smell smoke in the air, you’re advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially if you have chronic underlying medical conditions. Staying indoors and in air conditioned spaces helps to reduce fine particulate exposure. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have heart disease or underlying respiratory conditions - like asthma or other lung diseases, such as COPD. Anyone experiencing difficulty breathing or wheezing is advised to take steps to reduce their exposure to smoke and see a physician if necessary.

For information on current air quality readings in B.C. please visit: www.bcairquality.ca

Support for British Columbians impacted by wildfires:

Emergency Social Services (ESS) support has been provided for nearly 300 people in B.C. for wildfires east of Kelowna and in Port Hardy. ESS is temporary public aid that provides up to 72 hours of essentials like mass lodging and food service, as well as emergency supplies and necessities.

For information on how to access Emergency Social Services, see: https://flic.kr/p/vozEzU

Report all wildfires:

Human-caused wildfires are preventable and the public is B.C.’s first line of defence against forest fires. Please be diligent when in the backcountry, and report all wildfires to 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 on your mobile phone.

Quick Facts:

• Over 1,000 of B.C.’s 1,400 firefighters are fully deployed throughout the province.
• Since April 1, 2015, B.C. has reported 887 fires, more than double the 404 reported wildfires in 2014.
• Failure to report a fire can result in a fine of up to $173.
• Anyone who causes damage to Crown forest or grass land through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million or spend up to three years in prison.
• If a contravention of the Wildfire Act causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

Learn More:

For current information on current wildfires and open burning prohibitions in your area, as well as fire safety tips, see: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/ and http://ow.ly/PfwC6

To learn about how to prevent wildfires and what to do if your community receives an Evacuation Alert or Order, visit: http://ow.ly/PfsPl and http://ow.ly/PftLE

The Homeowner’s FireSmart Manual helps inform people on how to reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires: http://ow.ly/PfpqL

To keep up-to-date on emergency alerts and notices, follow @EmergencyInfoBC (mobile.twitter.com) on Twitter.

Media Contacts:

For wildfire information:

BC Wildfire Services Branch
Media Relations
250 312-3051

or

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Media Relations
250 356-5261

For air-quality questions:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834