Manitoba Conservation’s Fire Program will be sending 40 experienced firefighters to join forest fire crews in the Kamloops area of British Columbia, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced.
“We are pleased to be able to assist firefighters in B.C. as they battle stubborn blazes in the Kamloops area,” said Struthers. “The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre plays a pivotal role in the exchange of firefighting support amongst Canadian jurisdictions.”
Manitoba’s forest-fire situation at this time allows for the province to send two 20-person forest firefighter crews as co-ordinated through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC). CIFFC provides assistance with fire-crew management and information sharing on behalf of all provinces and territories and other jurisdictions such as the United States.
To date, there have been 130 fires across the province this fire season, consuming approximately 2,437 hectares. Approximately 77 were caused by humans and 53 were caused by lightning.
Over recent years, Manitoba has dispatched seasoned forest firefighters to Quebec, Alberta, B.C. and Montana, Oregon and Yukon, and CL-215 water bombers to Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Minnesota.
The Manitoba Conservation Fire Program focuses its efforts on the protection of lives and preservation of property and timberland. Individuals can be charged in cases where fires are deliberately set or caused by carelessness, and can be billed for the costs of extinguishing fires. Manitobans are reminded that open fires are prohibited from April 1 to Nov. 15, except under a burning permit or in approved firepits such as campfire grates in provincial campsites.
