More out-of-province fire personnel fly into Kamloops for deployment

NEWS/ WILDFIRES — More out-of-province fire personnel are arriving to help with B.C.’s wildfires in anticipation of a return to hot and dry conditions by the weekend.

Tuesday, 153 more arrived Tuesday and a structural protection unit arrives today (Wednesday).

They will also give crews currently fighting fires some rest days.

One hundred sustained-action firefighters and additional single specialists from Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick flew into Kamloops for briefings before being sent to fires throughout the province.

These personnel join more than 2,000 provincial staff, nearly 750 B.C. contractors and 350 out-of-province personnel already engaged in fire-response efforts.

Campfire prohibitions are in effect in many areas of the province.

Structural protection units are designed to be deployed during an interface fire, to dampen roofs and areas around structures and to prevent sparks or embers from igniting structural fires.

The contents of one structural protection unit can protect between 30 and 35 homes. As these are trailer units, they are easily moved anywhere in the province within 12 hours of dispatch. Highly trained personnel are required to set up and demobilize the units.