Posted on 08/01/2009, 11:30 am, by mySteinbach

On August 2, 2009, Manitoba Conservation’s Fire Program will be sending an additional 40 experienced firefighters and equipment to join the first group of 40 provincial forest fire crew members in British Columbia.
 
B.C. is experiencing a heavy fire season with new fires flaring up daily during a heat wave.  Manitoba crews have been deployed on a number of fires and remain mobile at all times.  In addition to the 40 firefighters, 25 pumps and relay tanks will be shipped to B.C.  The first group of 40 firefighters departed July 25 along with 50 pumps.
 
Manitoba’s forest fire situation remains quiet allowing the province to assist B.C. with the 80 forest firefighters as co-ordinated through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
 
To date, there have been 130 fires across Manitoba this fire season, consuming approximately 2,437 hectares.  Approximately 77 fires were caused by humans and 53 were caused by lightning.
 
Over recent years, Manitoba has dispatched seasoned forest firefighters to Quebec, Alberta, B.C., Montana, Oregon and Yukon and CL-215 water bombers to Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Minnesota.