As wildfires continue to rage across the Pacific northwest, B.C. is coming to the aid of our southern neighbours in attempting to contain the flames.
Today (Sept. 17), the B.C. government announced a 200-member battalion is heading to Oregon to help fight the fires, which have burned an estimated 1.9 million hectares of land across the western United States.
This includes 44 from the Prince George Fire Centre, the BC Wildfire Service says.
In an email to PrinceGeorgeMatters, the provincial organization explains among the local personnel is a unit of 20 firefighters, which can work on large fires and remain self-sufficient in the field for up to 72 hours.
Initial attack crews and four single resources for supervisory roles have also been assigned from the region.
Based in Redmond, located roughly 235 km southeast of Portland, officials say BC Wildfire Service members will work separately from American crews as a result of COVID-19.
Discussions are also taking place between the province and the states of Washington and Oregon in possibly sending 200 more fire personnel, a B.C. government statement says.
"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," says Forests Minister Doug Donaldson in the same release.
U.S. officials say dozens of wildfires are also burning across California and Idaho, as well as Washington and Oregon, and firefighters have been requested from Canada, nine other U.S. states and as far away as Israel.
- with files from The Canadian Press
