Ten fire unit crews accounting for 200 firefighters in addition to support personnel from British Columbia are beginning to arrive in Alberta and Ontario to aid in fire response efforts.
According to Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson, firefighters will be deployed to assist with the wildfire near Fort McMurray. Half will join teams in Thunder Bay, will the other half will join teams in northern Ontario.
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Crews will be deployed for up to 19 days, but can be recalled at any time should conditions change in British Columbia.
“Now that the level of fire activity has decreased in B.C., I am pleased that we are able to increase our level of assistance to Alberta and to provide assistance to Ontario,” said Thomson.
Thompson adds that B.C. has benefited from the assistance of crews from both provinces in previous fire seasons.
Alberta and Ontario’s provincial governments will cover the costs to transport workers from British Columbia.
