BC expects to ask for Ottawa’s help with worsening wildfires: Minister

Canada’s emergency preparedness minister says he expects a “reasonably substantive” request for help from British Columbia as wildfires worsen.

Bill Blair tells The Canadian Press that the government’s operations center has been in talks with the province for the past few days and that Ottawa is ready to deploy the necessary resources now that the formal request for aid has been made. expected Today.

That would include military assistance for airlift evacuations from remote locations, as well as members of the military trained as firefighters who can provide “cleanup assistance” to prevent fires from reigniting once extinguished.

The Canadian Coast Guard is mobilizing support for affected coastal communities, and Natural Resources Canada employees with forest management expertise are also preparing to help.

Blair adds that there are a number of national parks BC., so Parks Canada is ready to help the province with park firefighters and forest management experts.

says Blair BC. is one of the better equipped provinces to fight fires as it is often one of the hardest hit provinces, but any extra help needed is being made available.

There are more than 350 wildfires burning in every corner of the county, and the BC Wildfire Service is warning that another heat wave in many areas could put even more strain on already overworked crews.

The wildfire department says a 300-square-mile, week-old fire near Highway 37, just south of the Yukon border, has been calm, but it and similar fires in the north BC. may flare up over the next few days expected warm weather.