PG and Area Forest Fire Fighters on Way to Ontario

By 250 News

Red line shows edge of fire that started in the U.S. and spread north   as of 9:00 a.m. Sunday May 13th     

24 forest fire fighters from the Prince George region are heading off to Ontario to fight two large fires in that province. The 24 are part of a group of 141 being sent from  B.C.  and are  expected to remain in Ontario for up to 19 days.

Of the seven crews from this region , two are from Prince George, two from Ft St. John , one from Vanderhoof , one from Mackenzie , and one from different areas in this region. Along with the 21 men, three command managers will make the trip to organize and fight the fires.

The fires are forcing evacuation of people southwest of  the Thunder Bay area of Ontario.   The fires had skipped across the border  into Canada from the U.S. and what has been  labelled the "Ham Lake Fire".  That fire  in the U.S. has already destroyed   buildings,  and  burned  tens of thousands of acres of  forest.  The U.S. has already spent more than $4 million dollars battling the blaze, and  the fire (as of 9 a.m. Sunday) on the U.S. side is only 15 % contained.

Here at home,  Forest Minister Rich Coleman says with the fire conditions from low to moderate in B.C. "We felt we could spare the crews."   Coleman says the crews can be recalled  at any time should we need them.

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