With favourable weather conditions, the Village of Ashcroft is able to breathe a sigh of relief, but will still keep a fixed gaze on the many nearby wildfires that have sparked, including a 5,000 hectare wildfire in Tremont Creek which is currently classified as out of control..As for the Ashcroft Indian Band and the Village of Ashcroft, evacuation alerts have been issued as a precautionary measure..More than 60 properties to the east of Ashcroft were forced to flee, and an evacuation order remains in place for the community of Walhachin..The people of Ashcroft are well acquainted with the threat of wildfires, but have had a particularly tense few weeks nonetheless..During the 2017 wildfire season, many people in the Ashcroft reserve and some surrounding areas had their homes destroyed. This memory is still fresh in the residents minds while the estimated 300 fires continue burning across the province, with 40 new ones having sparked over the weekend..Currently there are 3,000 personnel dealing with the situation, but BC Wildfire Service says there are not enough firefighters to handle all of it..Some good news is that a “contingent” of 100 Mexican firefighters and an additional 20 Quebec firefighters will be assisting the BC Wildfire Service..“We’re deploying all available resources to respond to hundreds of wildfires across the province, and will continue to do everything possible to protect communities,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General..“We are grateful for firefighters from Mexico and Quebec who will help strengthen our wildfire response and protect British Columbians.”.The “unit crew” from Quebec touched down in BC on Friday, July 16..A “unit crew” is a 20-person sustained action crew that typically works on large fires and can remain self-sufficient in the field for up to 72 hours at a time..The 100 firefighters from Mexico are expected to arrive in Abbotsford on Saturday, July 24,.“We appreciate the firefighting assistance we’re receiving from other Canadian provinces and from Mexico,” said Katrine Conroy, minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development..“These crews are a welcome addition to our own firefighters and contractors, who are working extremely hard to help keep BC communities safe.”.Fires aren’t the only thing the provincial government feels the need to keep people safe from..Strict COVID-19 protocols are still in place. The Mexican firefighters will be tested for COVID-19 prior to leaving Mexico and again on their arrival in BC. They will also be offered COVID-19 vaccinations before being deployed in BC..Both the Quebec and Mexico crews – comprised of healthy, physically fit individuals – will be living and working in “operational bubbles” away from BC crews. They will also remain in their own bubbles when away from the fire lines..British Columbians are urged to be especially careful over the coming weeks, and the BC Wildfire Service reminds people that campfires and all open burning are currently prohibited throughout BC..To report a new wildfire or an open burning violation, call 1 800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone..Reid Small is a BC correspondent for the Western Standard.rsmall@westernstandardonline.com
With favourable weather conditions, the Village of Ashcroft is able to breathe a sigh of relief, but will still keep a fixed gaze on the many nearby wildfires that have sparked, including a 5,000 hectare wildfire in Tremont Creek which is currently classified as out of control..As for the Ashcroft Indian Band and the Village of Ashcroft, evacuation alerts have been issued as a precautionary measure..More than 60 properties to the east of Ashcroft were forced to flee, and an evacuation order remains in place for the community of Walhachin..The people of Ashcroft are well acquainted with the threat of wildfires, but have had a particularly tense few weeks nonetheless..During the 2017 wildfire season, many people in the Ashcroft reserve and some surrounding areas had their homes destroyed. This memory is still fresh in the residents minds while the estimated 300 fires continue burning across the province, with 40 new ones having sparked over the weekend..Currently there are 3,000 personnel dealing with the situation, but BC Wildfire Service says there are not enough firefighters to handle all of it..Some good news is that a “contingent” of 100 Mexican firefighters and an additional 20 Quebec firefighters will be assisting the BC Wildfire Service..“We’re deploying all available resources to respond to hundreds of wildfires across the province, and will continue to do everything possible to protect communities,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General..“We are grateful for firefighters from Mexico and Quebec who will help strengthen our wildfire response and protect British Columbians.”.The “unit crew” from Quebec touched down in BC on Friday, July 16..A “unit crew” is a 20-person sustained action crew that typically works on large fires and can remain self-sufficient in the field for up to 72 hours at a time..The 100 firefighters from Mexico are expected to arrive in Abbotsford on Saturday, July 24,.“We appreciate the firefighting assistance we’re receiving from other Canadian provinces and from Mexico,” said Katrine Conroy, minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development..“These crews are a welcome addition to our own firefighters and contractors, who are working extremely hard to help keep BC communities safe.”.Fires aren’t the only thing the provincial government feels the need to keep people safe from..Strict COVID-19 protocols are still in place. The Mexican firefighters will be tested for COVID-19 prior to leaving Mexico and again on their arrival in BC. They will also be offered COVID-19 vaccinations before being deployed in BC..Both the Quebec and Mexico crews – comprised of healthy, physically fit individuals – will be living and working in “operational bubbles” away from BC crews. They will also remain in their own bubbles when away from the fire lines..British Columbians are urged to be especially careful over the coming weeks, and the BC Wildfire Service reminds people that campfires and all open burning are currently prohibited throughout BC..To report a new wildfire or an open burning violation, call 1 800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone..Reid Small is a BC correspondent for the Western Standard.rsmall@westernstandardonline.com