The B.C. government is declaring a provincial state of emergency to support the province-wide response to the ongoing wildfire situation.
Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, made the declaration this afternoon based upon the recommendation from the BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Management BC. The declaration will be in effect starting tomorrow.
The state of emergency will initially be in effect for 14 days and may be extended or rescinded as necessary. The state of emergency applies to the whole province and ensures federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a coordinated response to protect the public, which remains the provincial government’s top priority.
As of yesterday, there were 299 wildfires burning in B.C., with 40 evacuation orders affecting over 5,700 people with an additional 69 evacuation alerts impacting more than 32,000 people.
With continued hot and dry conditions and heightened wind activity in the Interior and southeastern B.C. forecast, the outlook is grim.
More than 3,180 firefighters and resource staff are currently actively engaged in fighting fires in all fire regions in the province. This includes 1,080 contractors and 135 out-of-province resources.
The federal government has responded to and accepted British Columbia’s request for firefighting assistance. In the coming days, federal personnel and resources will be arriving in B.C. to assist with wildfire efforts.
The state of emergency gives agencies, such as the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Emergency Management BC, the fire commissioner and the RCMP, the authority to take every action necessary to fight the wildfires and protect people and communities.
More information on evacuation orders and alerts is available at Emergency Info BC: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
Stay up to date on the provincial wildfire situation: www.bcwildfire.ca
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