The province had requested 1,000 additional foreign firefighters to join 160 from Mexico and the United States already in B.C., said Bowinn Ma, minister of emergency management and climate readiness. Blair, federal minister of emergency preparedness, had earlier said he was expecting a “fairly substantive” request for help from B.C. “For the last 48 hours we’ve been working with Canadian Armed Forces, Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and people from the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Blair. would welcome all additional firefighters and equipment as hot weather and afternoon lightning storms keep fire conditions extreme and strain resources, said BC Wildfire Service spokesman Cliff Chapman. firefighters are currently battling the flames, but many need rest and the arrival of international help will provide that opportunity.

Source: thestar July 14, 2023 05:53 UTC