More B.C. firefighting personnel and resources will be deployed out of province this week to help our neighbours to the south deal with an increase in wildfire activity.

One helicopter (with logistical support), a helicopter operations technician, two rapattack crews, two unit crews (from the Southeast Fire Centre and Cariboo Fire Centre) and one agency representative will be sent to Leavenworth, Washington.

In addition, 23 parattack crew members and an agency representative will be sent to Missoula, Montana.

These missions follow closely behind the most recent deployment of firefighting personnel and resources to Idaho, announced yesterday. Previous deployments this season saw B.C. firefighters head to Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Quebec and Alaska.

The recent decrease in wildfire activity in British Columbia makes it possible to share resources with other jurisdictions. The crews deployed today will be out of province for up to 19 days, but they can be recalled at any time if B.C.’s wildfire situation changes. Sufficient personnel have been retained to manage current firefighting needs.

The request for assistance 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 parattack crews were requested through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Costs associated with these deployments are covered by the receiving jurisdictions.

British Columbia’s Wildfire Management Branch is also 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.

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.

Pictures and pictures – BC Wildfire Branch