Sunday July 23, 2023 | ABBOTSFORD, BC [Updated July 24, 2023]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today at noon at the airport in Abbotsford, Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, welcomed wildfire firefighters from Brazil.
She said that half of the 100 incoming firefighters were there for the announcement, then heading to the BC Wildfire Service operations centre in Prince George to join the rest of their contingent.
All incoming international firefighters head to Prince George for assignment where needed in the province. Most of the wildfire activity in BC has been in the BC northeast, said Ma. She added that resources are moved around as required
Now BC has about 2,600 personnel working on the wildfire situation across the province. About 500 are BC contracted services, and the out of province component is about 600 including from other parts of Canada as well as USA, Mexico, Australia and now Brazil.
As of yesterday, there are 250 evacuation orders in place in BC, as well as 3,347 people impacted by evacuation alerts, said Minister Ma.
Cooperative exchange:
Ma was joined by the Consul General of Brazil, Renato Mosca, who expressed his gratitude at the cooperation for an international effort.
He said that many of these Brazilian personnel have experience with dryland firefighting in particular in a dry savannah area of his country. He added that the Brazilian international force is comprised of military police and firefighters through their department of conservation.
Wildfire update:
A more detailed BC Wildfire update will be provided this coming week, said Ma. But today she was able to provide, in summary:
1,423 wildfires in BC this year to date, which have burned 1.48 million hectares so far. Currently there are 477 active wildfires (22 of note), half of which are under control.
Further drought potential:
As she has done at least twice now in the past week or so, Minister Ma reminded everyone in BC to conserve water where they can.
If the drought of 2023 continues through the season, that may carry over to an early start of drought conditions in 2024 (as was the case from Fall 2022 into winter/spring of 2023).
Recognizing Devyn Gale:
Today Ma said the memorial service for Devyn Gale in Revelstoke “was an extremely somber occasion”.
She said it was extremely difficult for such a tight knit community to mark the passing of a 19-year-old woman from their community and called Gale “a hero to our province”.
===== RELATED:
BC drought has potential agricultural impact (July 22, 2023)
BC Wildfire Update July 20: long dry season, all Vancouver Island at Drought Level 5 (July 20, 2023)
BC Wildfire Service crew member has died (July 14, 2023)
Premier Eby asks everyone to conserve water (July 13, 2023)
CRD not increasing summer water restrictions past Stage 1 (July 11, 2023)