Cooler weather in B.C. allows province to send crews to Ontario and Alberta

KAMLOOPS,, B.C. – A steep decline in fire activity in British Columbia is allowing the province to loan out two teams of firefighters to Alberta and Ontario.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson says the BC Wildfire Service is sending about 100 firefighters plus support personnel to each province to help fight fires around Fort McMurray and northern Ontario.

The crews can be deployed for up to 19 days, but can be recalled at any time if the fire conditions change in B.C.

Thomson says he’s pleased to be able to increase the level of support to the two provinces, adding that B.C. has benefited from the help of crews from both Alberta and Ontario in previous fire seasons.

Wildfires in northeastern B.C. this spring have kept fire crews extremely busy and hundreds of people were chased out of their homes as fires approached in Peace region.

Cooler weather and several centimetres of snow in the area prompted the turnaround.