More Than 100 Firefighters from Mexico Headed to Canada to Help Battle Wildfires Adam Proskiw - InfoTel News
go to original August 2, 2017

Crew member on site at the Elephant Hill wildfire (Facebook/BCForestFireInfo)

Update: Mexican Firefighters Arrive in Chilliwack to Join the Wildfire Battle (Abbotsford News)

Firefighters from two other countries are flying into the Interior to help battle wildfires.

In addition to 27 firefighters from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, 108 firefighters from Mexico will arrive this week and will be deployed to wildfires Friday, according to a media release from B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Kevin Skrepnek.

“Hot and dry weather conditions have kept a persistently high fire danger rating throughout B.C.,” he says. “Firefighting crews are on standby in all six of B.C.'s fire centres in preparation for an anticipated increase in fire starts over the next few days due to unsettled weather in the forecast, which may bring lightning.

“This is the first time Mexican personnel have assisted B.C., although they have been employed many times by the Province of Alberta.”

The cost of bringing in the international resources will be covered by the Province of B.C.

Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Doug Donaldson says thanks are owed to both local and foreign firefighters.

"Given the severity of B.C. wildfires this year, we greatly appreciate the ability to draw on personnel from beyond our borders,” he says.

Read the rest at InfoTel News

Related: More Than 1/4 of BC Wildfire Evacuees Registered in Prince George (MyPrinceGeorgeNow)

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