International firefighters arrive in B.C. to assist in wildfire efforts

“They will join over 600 out-of-province firefighting resource personnel already here in B.C., as well as the 2,000 BC Wildfire personnel that are already fighting fires.”

British Columbia welcomed around 100 firefighters from Brazil over the weekend to assist in the response to the province’s wildfires.

During a press conference Sunday at the Abbotsford Air Tanker Base, both Bownn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Preparedness and the Consulate General of Brazil, Renato Mosca, welcomed the out-of-country firefighters.

“We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of them,” said Ma.

“They will join over 600 out-of-province firefighting resource personnel already here in British Columbia, as well as the 2,000 BC Wildfire personnel that are already fighting fires.”

Currently, there are 480 wildfires burning in the province, with multiple evacuation orders and alerts in effect at this time.

Ma says, with the additional firefighters, the province feels confident about the number of resources it has.

The firefighters landed Friday evening and have been taking part in briefings and are being deployed to the Prince George Fire Centre.

Mosca praised the relationship Brazil has with Canada and says Brazil has much to contribute during the wildfire season.