Kamloops, BC – For the second time this week, BC will bolster fire fighting efforts in Alaska…

On Tuesday, the BC Wildfire Management Branch deployed an airtanker group – consisting of two airtankers, one birddog aircraft, and one Air Attack Officer – to Palmer, Alaska.  Later this morning, seven specialized rapattack crews and a helicopter from Salmon Arm will head for Delta Junction, Alaska.

"BC's wildland firefighters are recognized as the world's best," says Forest, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations Minister, Steve Thomson.  "We're pleased to be able to lend assistance to other jurisdictions when we are able."

Thomson says sufficient personnel and resources remain in the province to respond appropriately to any fire activity, given the current and forecasted fire situation.

Under a mutual resource-sharing agreement, involving the Western provinces, territories, and several states in the Western US, the crews can be deployed for up to 19-days, with the associated costs covered by the jurisdiction requesting the resources.