Province providing forest firefighters to British Columbia

Ed Byrne, Minister of Natural Resources, announced today 21 forest firefighters from Newfoundland and Labrador are scheduled to head to British Columbia on July 1 to provide assistance in dealing with the serious forest fire situation currently facing that province.

The province has received a request through the Mutual Aid Resource Sharing (MARS) program, which is administered through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), for a 21-person firefighting crew from this province. The MARS agreement provides for the borrowing and lending of fire suppression resources among provinces during the forest fire season.

"We have heard from CIFFC that there are over 450 forest fires currently burning in British Columbia. That is six times as many fires compared to the same period last year," said Minister Byrne. "The forest firefighting capacity of British Columbia is already stretched to the limit with the situation anticipated to worsen in the coming weeks as they have yet to reach the height of their forest fire season."

 Minister Byrne said the province is able to provide the assistance that is being requested considering the current forest fire index level throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. "Due to recent cool and wet weather conditions the forest fire index here in the province is currently low. Accordingly, we are able to support British Columbia�s fire suppression efforts by providing the services of the forest firefighters requested."

The forest firefighters from this province are expected to be deployed to forest fires currently burning in the Prince George region. This team of 21 personnel is expected to be in British Columbia for a period of 14 days. This is the second consecutive year this province will provide assistance to British Columbia to assist with their forest firefighting efforts as last year 20 forest firefighters were provided to that province.

"Our department is fortunate to have a highly-skilled and professional team of forest firefighters at its disposal," said Minister Byrne in expressing thanks to those firefighters who are making themselves available to travel to British Columbia. "I am confident they will perform admirably and I commend them for their dedicated efforts in protecting the public and our outdoor resources."

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-5282

2004 06 29                                        3:15 p.m.