100 Mexican firefighters touch down in B.C. to battle Interior blazes

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — One hundred firefighters from Mexico have arrived in B.C. to help with wildfires scorching the Interior.

B.C.’s central and southern Interior are still facing difficult wildfire conditions, with over 275 fires keeping 3200 crews busy fighting the blazes on the ground.

Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety, says the crews arrived Saturday.

Some of the 100 firefighters from Mexico, here to help fight forest fires in BC, Bienvenidos a Canada,we are so pleased they’re here. pic.twitter.com/tekab67eI6

— Mike Farnworth (@mikefarnworthbc) July 24, 2021

“These highly trained crews will be on-hand for 30 days working shoulder to shoulder with our wildfire service crews. We can’t thank these men and women enough for heeding our call for support,” said Farnworth.

95 fires are in the Kamloops Fire Centre, which covers most of the southern Interior. There are nearly 40 wildfires of note being battled by the BC Wildfire Service.

Farnworth says that on Friday the first contingent of the Canadian Armed Forces Wildfire Ground Crews arrived in Vernon, with more to come mid week.

It was a pleasure to welcome the firefighting crews from Mexico, today. Thank you to Consul General, Berenice Díaz Ceballos, and Minister Farnworth for being there to greet them upon arrival. pic.twitter.com/nqdbBiuJhf

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 25, 2021

The Mexican crews will join out of province crews and resources from Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Parks Canada battling the flames.

“For now we continue to face difficult fire behaviour and conditions throughout the central and southern interior.” Farnworth says. “Our provincial and contract crews have been working hard. The assistance we’re seeing from Mexico is a welcome relief to all British Columbians.”

Farnworth is optimistic that B.C. will see the end of this challenging wildfire period.

“We will see the other side of this fire season.”