Home »
3 facts you need to know
About Wildfire Firefighting Resources
By Bill Bennett
Kootenay East MLA
1) With the dry summer weather, wildfire season is again upon us. British Columbia’s Wildfire Management Branch typically responds to 2,000 fires each year. In 10 years, costs have ranged from a low of $47 million in 2006 to a high of $382 million in 2010.
2) The province has four ‘Fire Boss’ amphibious scoopers that drop water, foam and retardant on a fire. One Fire Boss can scoop up over 3,000 litres of water in under 15 seconds, and be back on its way to the fire in under 30 seconds, buying time for ground crews to begin containing it.
3) Cranbrook is home to one of B.C.’s Airtanker bases. Since 2006, this base along with the bases in Penticton, Kamloops, and Williams Lake have been upgraded at a cost of more than $9 million.
Please remember to dial *5555 on your cell phone to report a wildfire, or call 1-800-663-5555.
Lead image: An Air Spray water bomber is re-fueled at Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
