Firefighters swamped, says local fire chief
‘Too many fires, not enough firefighters,’ says Penticton fire chief in Cariboo to help with wildfires burning there
Penticton fire Chief Larry Watkinson had no time to talk Wednesday as he was busy trying to protect structures from the wildfires burning out of control in the Cariboo.
Watkinson is the Cariboo complex fire incident commander for structure protection.
The longtime fire chief was deployed on Friday and could be there up to two more weeks to relieve the local commanders working the emergency operation centre.
“There is a lot going on. Too many fires, not enough firefighters,” Watkinson said Wednesday.
One report said firefighters were working up to 20 hours a day on some fires in the area, but that couldn’t be confirmed.
This comes on the same day the B.C. government declared a state of emergency due to the 559 wildfires burning across the province and more than 1,500 homes evacuated.
It’s the second time in as many years that a state of emergency has been declared during the wildfire season and the fourth time in just over two decades.
The latest state of emergency will remain in effect for 14 days but can be extended or rescinded as necessary, said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, adding it ensures federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated manner.
Thus far, the province hasn’t detailed if more resources are being deployed.
Ottawa said it would send members of the army to help battle the blazes.
Watkinson is near the Shovel Lake wildfire, 34 kilometres from Burns Lake. That fire, which began July 27, is now more than 50,000 hectares.
Near that fire is the Alkali Lake fire, at 33,000 hectares in size, and the 25,000-hectare Nadina Lake wildfire.
A total of 113 firefighters, 37 support personnel, 52 pieces of heavy equipment, 16 helicopters and 17 structural protection staff are being shared among all the fires in the Cariboo complex area.
The three massive fires are creating so much smoke toward Prince George and Burns Lake that it is going dark around 3 p.m. each day.
Watkinson is with the provincial fire chiefs’ association and took training last year on how to manage large wildfires.