Wildfire activity throughout the province of British Columbia has returned to an extreme level during the last week. Communities across the province have experienced a very challenging wildfire season, resulting in evacuations, loss of personal property, and damage to critical infrastructure.
On August 19, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, approved a Request for Federal Assistance from the Government of British Columbia to support the province's efforts to combat the wildfires.
The federal government is providing the following supports:
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard has confirmed support through providing multiple personnel trained in the Incident Command System and will increase capacity in support roles as needed.
- Transport Canada has confirmed support with high-level aerial surveillance fire mapping through the National Aerial Surveillance Program. It is also providing air travel related flexibilities, including requirements for travel identification, hours of service for the transport of essential goods, and movement of pets, as needed. The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting flights near the Kelowna airport is still in effect. The department continues to work with air operators, provincial emergency operations staff and airports to accommodate commercial arrivals and departures around aerial firefighting operations, and will provide assistance where required.
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is working closely with government agencies and volunteers to ensure everyone's safety. The RCMP is actively patrolling the affected communities and have deployed additional resources from Federal, Provincial and Municipal units to support the evacuations and relieve local frontline officers.
- Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is providing funding for preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery through the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP). This will help enhance capacity to address emergency events including wildfires. ISC is working closely with the Province of British Columbia, First Nations' Emergency Services Society of British Columbia and the First Nations Health Authority to ensure First Nations are fully supported to respond to emergency events and evacuations. ISC is also keeping close contact with affected First Nations to ensure they are fully supported during emergency events and evacuations now and into the future.
- Employment and Social Development Canada will support impacted Canadians with enhanced Service Canada delivery, outreach to evacuees, and deployment of mobile units to evacuation centres to assist clients by offering support in submitting applications for benefits, such as employment insurance.
- The Canadian Armed Forces is making available Vernon Cadet Training Center, (located approximately 50 km north of Kelowna) to support community evacuations, firefighting staging, and operations as well as administrative activities.
- A 30-member reconnaissance team drawn from 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based out of Shilo Manitoba, is currently in British Columbia in order to collaborate with and provide advice to Emergency Management British Columbia. The CAF is prepared to support with additional capabilities to augment and complement the province's efforts, should they be required.
- Public Services and Procurement Canada is coordinating with the province and will support any emerging contracting needs.
The Government of Canada's Government Operations Centre is working closely with federal and provincial partners to coordinate the federal response to the situation in British Columbia.
