British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the province is sending almost 100 wildland firefighters to Ontario, where fires have been threatening several communities near the Manitoba border.
Parmar says the deployment comes after B.C. sent 42 firefighters to Manitoba, where a blaze near Lac du Bonnet this week destroyed 28 homes and cottages and left two people dead.
Manitoba remains in a state of emergency following a declaration by Premier Wab Kinew on May 15.
Parmar said the deployments are part of an inter-agency agreement that allows provinces to ask each other for wildfire support.
Cool temperatures and rain have kept B.C.’s own fire situation manageable, Parmar says, allowing for the crews to be deployed.
He said it’s up to Ontario to decide where the B.C. firefighters will be sent.
Parmar said typical deployments to other jurisdictions last two weeks, but government is assessing the situation on a daily …