Firefighting personnel from northwest British Columbia, including some members from Terrace, are driving to the U.S. today to assist in the struggle against massive wildfires in Oregon.
Part of a larger contingent of more than 200 B.C. fire personnel, 23 members of the Northwest Fire Centre marshalled in Chilliwack yesterday where they took part in briefings.
"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, in a media release.
"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."
Deployments abroad can last up to 19 days with travel days on either end. The crews will be doing fire-line work for exactly two weeks.
The 20-firefighter Unit Crew and three supervisors from the northwest are driving their own British Columbia Wildfire Service trucks to Oregon, bringing with them all their regular tools and equipment like pumps, hoses, chainsaws and hand tools.
BC Wildfire Service personnel will remain in their own “bubble” and will conduct operations separately from American firefighters as a precaution against COVID-19.
The Oregon fires have killed at least eight people, burning over 4,000 square kilometres and leveling more than 1,000 homes.
