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B.C. sends federal government a save-our-forests call for help

"Urgent situation" prompts call for help with 600 wildfires currently burning
kamloops fire
B.C. is asking for crews to perform mop-up and aircraft for emergency transport.

With 600 wildfires burning across British Columbia, the provincial government is putting out its own call for help.

“This is an urgent situation, and the safety of British Columbia is our highest priority,” says Mike Farnworth, provincial minister of public safety, in a press release.

“Due to the increase in the number of wildfires affecting communities and the extreme wildfire behaviour we are seeing, we’re asking for federal assistance for additional resources that may be needed to protect the public, property and infrastructure.”

Right now, there are 3,400 wildfire personnel, including contractors, out-of-province crews, city firefighters, B.C. Wildfire Service members and industry personnel trying to keep the province safe.

The fires have currently prompted 27 evacuation orders across the province affecting 3,100 people (1,537 properties), in addition to 43 evacuation alerts affecting around 17,900 people (8,909 properties).

B.C. is asking for the following:

*200 self-sufficient personnel to perform mop-up and patrol of contained fires, under the supervision of the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS will provide the equipment and training for these tasks).

*Heavy-lift aircraft to reposition wildfire crews and equipment to new fire starts that threaten communities. These aircraft will assist with the resupply of existing operations (fire camps, air bases, etc.), which will permit BC Wildfire Service aircraft to be directed to the firefighting effort from resupply tasks.

*Aircraft for emergency transport of injured personnel and to help evacuate people in remote areas, should evacuation routes be compromised.