Firefighters and equipment from the West Kootenay have been sent to the Okanagan and elsewhere in BC this summer to help battle wildfires.
Kootenay Boundary Fire and Rescue chief Dan Derby noted he went to Cranbrook to provide support in the fight against the ʔaq̓am fire.
One of their tenders was also deployed to Cranbrook for two weeks, then moved to Sparwood with a new crew for another two weeks.
Deputy chief Glen Gallamore is on his second deployment this week as a task force leader on the Twin Lakes fire near Penticton.
An engine and a mixed crew of career and paid-on-call firefighters has also been sent to West Kelowna.
At the same time, Derby says they have to ensure enough resources are available at home.
“It’s a tricky balance because we have to cover shifts here and make sure we have the coverage necessary,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say departments are stretched across the province.”
Derby said providing mutual aid to other regions provides valuable experience and recognizes that “inevitably one day we may be on the receiving end of support from other communities.”
More than 25,000 people remain on evacuation order in BC due to wildfires and another 37,000 are on evacuation alert.
However, on Wednesday, emergency management minister Bowinn Ma said the fire situation has stabilized in some areas and a travel restriction on the Okanagan has been lifted, except for West Kelowna.
She said the order worked in freeing up thousands of hotel rooms for those forced from their homes as well as emergency responders.
But some people are refusing to leave their homes despite the order to do so.
“I know some people want to stay and fight,” Ma said. “I understand that. But it also my duty to be clear about the risks to people and emergency crews.”
She said the issue is becoming “increasingly divisive.”
