Ontario And New Brunswick to Help Fight Fires

By 250 News

VICTORIA - British Columbia is welcoming additional personnel fromOntario and New Brunswick to assist B.C. fire crews as hot and dry  conditions continue in the province, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell  announced today.

"With the three large fires our crews are fighting in west Kelowna, and  the current outlook for continued hot and dry weather, we're taking advantage of the resource-sharing agreement we have with other
provinces, and asking for additional crews," said Bell. "July and August  are the peak months for forest fires, so we're ensuring we're fully prepared.

"By noon tomorrow, fire bans will cover all the province and we ask the public remain vigilant at all times to reduce the number of human-caused fires, which divert our resources."

Ontario crews will arrive in Merritt today and are expected to stay for 14 days. Among the staff are 120 initial attack firefighters, and two agency representatives. These crews will be used to action small fires, as the province is expecting dry lightning in the south.

An air attack officer mentor from New Brunswick will also join the crews tomorrow, and is expected to stay for 14 days.

The Rose Valley Dam fire is 107 hectares in size and 100 per cent
contained.

The Glenrosa fire is 303 hectares and 100 per cent contained.

The Terrace Mountain fire has grown to 2,000 hectares and is 30 per cent
contained.

The fire danger rating in British Columbia is currently moderate to high, with pockets where the rating is extreme in southern portions of the province.

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