B.C. gov’t to send fire management team to California

The B.C. government confirmed Friday it will send a BC Wildfire Service team to help battle major wildfires devastating southern California.

B.C.’s minister of forests, Ravi Parmar, says the state’s fire response service, CAL Fire requested “senior-level” expertise on the frontlines of the fire Thursday.

“California has supported us in our time of need, and we’re now able to reciprocate that support,” said Parmar.

“This is of course a rapidly evolving situation, but we will deploy the resources that our partners need.”

In an update Friday, Parmar says the BCWS will send “a senior fire management team into southern California.”

“The unit will work directly with CAL FIRE to provide advanced support in crucial areas like logistics, planning, operations, aviation, and more,” Parmar explained.

Premier David Eby says the BC Wildfire Service reached out to CAL Fire, offering assistance Wednesday.

“We will always stand with our American neighbours when they are in need,” Eby wrote on social media Thursday.

Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canadian water bombers are already in action and 250 firefighters were ready to deploy to help fight the wildfires south of the border.

Already this week, firefighting aircraft provided by the Quebec government and a B.C.-based company were mobilized to join the fight.