Thursday September 17, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
More than 200 B.C. firefighters and related personnel are heading to the U.S. to help battle extreme fire activity in Oregon.
“Over 800 BC Wildfire Service personnel volunteered to go into someone else’s community and to someone else’s fire to do what they can to make sure people are safe,” said Premier John Horgan. “That is just extraordinary, and it speaks volumes about our compassion and our commitment to helping each other. I’m very proud of those individuals.”
The first set of 207 firefighters is being deployed to Redmond, Oregon and will be deployed as needed to assist with the dire wildfire situation, said the BC Government in a news release today.
British Columbia is also in direct contact with Oregon and Washington about the potential to send an additional 200 personnel in the coming days and weeks.
Premier Horgan’s accolades for firefighters:
On Monday Premier John Horgan told media that the firefighter team heading to Oregon and Washington State includes “over 800 volunteers to run into someone else’s fire to do what they can to make sure people are safe”.
“My brother was a 35-year firefighter, I know the impact on families,” the Premier said.
Horgan noted the efforts of firefighters “on the docks in New Westminster overnight” (where an old bridge caught ablaze). “Firefighters are so precious to us,” he continued, with amazement, adding: “Eight hundred British Columbians said ‘how can I help’. That speaks volumes about our compassion and commitment.”
BC firefighters in their own bubble:
“Here in British Columbia, we’ve been fortunate to have experienced a moderate wildfire season, but our neighbours to the south have not been so lucky,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural development. “B.C. firefighters who are willing to be deployed out of the country during this challenging time deserve a lot of credit for their professionalism.”
Given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the province and in the U.S., the B.C. firefighters and staff will be taking extraordinary precautions to safeguard the health of everyone participating in this deployment, both during their time in the U.S. and on their return to Canada.
BC Wildfire Service personnel will remain within their own “bubble” and conduct their firefighting operations separately from American firefighters, as co-ordinated by the U.S. Forest Service and other relevant authorities.
Since the pandemic began, the BC Wildfire Service has been taking extra precautions in this province to protect its staff from possible exposure, including physical distancing and enhanced safety and sanitation protocols.
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre:
The American 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. All associated costs will be covered by the jurisdiction that requested the resources, including BC Wildfire Service staff quarantine time upon their return to Canada.
Sufficient personnel and resources remain in the province to respond appropriately to any fire activity in British Columbia, considering the current and forecasted fire situation.
Local firefighters not needed in USA at this time:
Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey explains that at this time, the Province is only sending BC Wildfire Crews to assist and not structural firefighters from municipal fire departments.
“We will continue to monitor any requests for resources and determine what if any assistance we can provide at that time.”
Chief Aubrey adds, today: “Fortunately the provincial wild fire threat has diminished somewhat with the recent change in the weather so hopefully this signifies the end of our wildfire season.”
===== Links:
- Report wildfires to *5555 on a cell or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.
- For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories in B.C., go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca
- Follow the latest B.C. wildfire news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
