Feds pledge further support to help fight B.C. wildfires

The federal government says it will provide the B.C. government with further help to fight wildfires across the province.

In a post on social media Friday morning, Canadian Minster of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan said the feds have approved an official request from the province for assistance.

In response to the relentless wildfires, we received & approved an additional Request for Assistance from the Government of British Columbia. @CanadianForces members will be there to assist the province with firefighting operations.

— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) August 25, 2023

Sajjan, who is also the MP for Vancouver South, said Canadian Forces members will be in the province to help.

This is not the first request from the province for help from the Government of Canada. The first was approved on July 14, and the second on Aug. 19.

In the latter, the feds said the support would include additional personnel from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard, more help from the RCMP, and high-level aerial surveillance fire mapping from Transport Canada, among others.

Related links:

• Trudeau in Okanagan to meet firefighters as final travel ban lifted for Kelowna area

• Metro Vancouver issues air quality advisory

As of Friday, BC Wildfire Service reports 366 active wildfires remain active across the province. Of these, 12 are considered “fires of note,” and 145 are listed as “out of control.” A provincial state of emergency was declared by Premier David Eby Aug 18.