Ft. Nelson, B.C.- A structure protection unit (SPU) has been deployed to this region to help protect oil and gas camps from the risk of wildfire.

 

The SPU is an industrial sized sprinkler unit, designed to be deployed during an interface fire to dampen roves and areas around structures and to prevent sparks or embers from igniting structure fires.

 

One SPU can protect between 30 and 40 homes or larger industrial structures.

 

The Wildfire Management Branch has deployed fire crews, airtankers and heavy equipment to aid suppression efforts in the area.

 

There are 91 fires burning in the province right now,  with 663 fires  having  burned about 16,000 hectares of land since April.

 

Human activity sparked about 48% of the 663 wildfires in B.C. this year.