Increased funding comes in response to hazards of climate change
A federal-provincial cost-sharing agreement that will provide the BC Wildfire Service $64 million over five years is allowing the public safety agency to become a year-round service.
“Given these trends, BCWS is strengthening its approach to wildfire prevention, wildfire management and year-round all-hazard response,” said BCWS information officer Alex Lane. In total, the BCWS has added 149 new crew positions. The provincial force includes 149 initial attack crews to keep small fires contained, 30 unit crews for sustained action on larger fires with 65 fire crew supervisors. Fire crew supervisors are being transitioned to full-time, year-round duty. An additional 70 firefighters are being added to reconfigure 100 initial attack crews as four-person crews to meet national standards.
According to Lane, additional support for the PGFC's seven fire zones will be hired over the next several months with most of those positions filled by existing seasonal staff. The PGFC coordination centre will also increase its year-round workforce over the next year.
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