The BCWS sent a senior management team consisting of 13 technical specialists to assist CAL FIRE in managing the rapidly spreading Palisades wildfire.
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews have arrived back in British Columbia after spending two weeks assisting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in battling wildfires in Los Angeles.
“In times of need, we will always be there for our friends; that’s who we are as British Columbians and as Canadians,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Firefighters don’t ask questions, they run into fires. I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of the crew members who made the trip south.”
The BCWS dispatched a senior management team of 13 technical specialists on January 11, who worked directly alongside the American incident management team.
The team from B.C. provided support in planning, logistics, operations, aviation, fire weather, and information roles according to a media release.
“BCWS members integrated into the team, supporting various incident command system positions,” said David Scheurich, staff chief, CAL FIRE. “This collaboration highlighted differences in processes, paving the way for greater future integration between the agencies. As wildfires grow larger and more destructive worldwide, partnerships like these are essential, and we are grateful to our B.C. partners and all the other states and countries that lent their support.”
Additionally, on January 16, 22 front-line personnel and one agency representative from the BCWS arrived to assist with various wildland firefighting support roles. This team took part in rehabilitation work, fire-readiness efforts, and front-line wildfire suppression on the Hughes and Eaton wildfires.
BCWS’s primary objective in California was to assist CAL FIRE by providing expertise and personnel.
Additionally, the crews gained valuable experience in managing large fires within the wildland-urban interface, where wilderness and communities intersect.
B.C crews were able to integrate with the American firefighters’ operations, gaining familiarity with the terrain and procedures through response scenarios according to the media release.
This involved dispatching, mapping, constructing fire lines using various hand tools, and employing fire-suppression techniques without access to water. Through collaboration and coordinated efforts, BCWS crews and their American counterparts have strengthened their ability to combat future wildfires in B.C.
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