Interior firefighters among those heading to Oregon

The province is sending more than 200 firefighters to help battle fires in Oregon.

The Kamloops Fire Centre will be sending 47 personnel, including firefighters, initial attack crew members and some supervisory resources.

These personnel have departed for Chilliwack on the first leg of their trip down south.

“They’re all driving down in their own vehicles,” said Forrest Tower, Communication and Engagement Specialist with the BC Wildfire Service. “They will be mustering in Chilliwack today (Sep. 17) and then they’ll be driving down tomorrow all together. They’re bringing their own tools and then once down in Oregon they’ll be within their own bubble, so B.C. crews won’t interact with any of the American crews and all of their camp infrastructure will be separate as well.”

The firefighters will also be required to do a 14-day quarantine upon return to Canada.

Additional BC Wildfire Service Personnel could be sent out if needed.

“There might be the potential for another 200 BCWS members to be going down to the States,” Tower said. “That deployment hasn’t been confirmed yet but there is potential and we have that resource capability with our season really tapering off in the next couple of weeks here. We’re looking to support the U.S. as much as BCWS can in their situation here.”