Canada’s emergency preparedness minister said he expected a “fairly substantial” request for help from British Columbia as wildfires worsened.
Bill Blair told the Canadian Press that the Government Operations Center has been in talks with the state over the last few days and with a formal request for assistance due today, the City of Ottawa is ready to commit the necessary resources. said there is.
This is said to include military support for airborne evacuations from remote areas, as well as military personnel trained as firefighters who can provide “clearance” assistance to prevent fires from reigniting after they have been extinguished.
The Canadian Coast Guard is mobilizing assistance to affected coastal communities, and Natural Resources Agency staff with forest management expertise are also preparing to assist.
Blair added that Parks Canada is ready to help British Columbia with park firefighters and forest management experts because of its many national parks.
Blair said British Columbia is one of the states better prepared to deal with fires, as it is one of the states that is often hit hardest, but he wants to make sure he gets the extra help he needs. said that
With more than 350 wildfires raging across the state, the BC Wildfire Service warned that another heatwave in many areas could put an additional strain on already stretched crews. are doing.
The Bushfire Service said a 300-square-kilometer blaze a week ago near Highway 37, just south of the Yukon border, has subsided, but the blaze and other blazes raged across northern British Columbia. Similar blazes could reignite during the heatwave expected in the next few days, they said.
This report by the Canadian Press Agency was first published on July 13, 2023.
