Work Starts on Wildfire Coordination Centre

By 250 News

Kamloops, B.C. - As the summer weather heats up, the B.C. Government says construction of a new centre in Kamloops to help fight wildfires across the province will make a difference.  Construction of the building was announced today by Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell and Kamloops area MLAs.

The Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre will be the hub for all wildfire activities, including aviation services, fire weather forecasting, and the existing airtanker dispatch.  The Ministry of Forests and Range says the consolidation of firefighting co-ordination services in Kamloops will help in staff recruitment, integrating business processes, as well as reducing costs through less business travel and rental charges.

The $4.47 million facility will be built by Ledcor Construction to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold facility standards. For example, the facility's air and water systems will be completely heated and cooled using geothermal heating technology, an efficient and environmentally-friendly energy alternative.

Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell says Kamloops is the right choice for location of the centre.  
"With the Kamloops region being the most active for wildfires in the province, having all these protection services in the same area just makes sense," said Bell. "Our crews are among the best in the world, and this new, state-of-the-art Centre will better support them in their efforts to protect both people and property."

Don't expect the facility to play a role in this year's wildfire season.  The government says the new Wildfire Coordination Centre is scheduled to be completed and staffed in time for the 2010 fire season.

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