Kamloops, B.C.- The new Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre has been officially opened in Kamloops.

 

The $4.5-million facility contains the province's airtanker dispatch, aviation management and fire weather forecasting operations. It was moved to Kamloops due to the region's high fire activity and close proximity to the Kamloops fire centre and provincial airtanker centre

 

Minister of Forests and Range, Pat Bell, says the move to Kamloops from Victoria provided an opportunity for innovation "The centre features Canada's only Birddog flight simulator used for firebombing practice. That means air attack officers can now train in Kamloops rather than travelling as far away as California to complete their certification.”

 

A $950,000 upgrade to the Williams Lake Airtanker Base is also underway, and improvements to the Castlegar Airtanker Base will be completed within the year.

 

Since April 1, fire crews have responded to more than 170 fires across the province, 155 of which were person-caused.