Hot weather is forecast to persist across much of the province and thunderstorms are likely to bring more lightning strikes that will spark more fires, Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for BC Wildfire, said in a media briefing on Thursday. Lack of rain in recent months has left much British Columbia parched, in what officials say is an "unprecedented" level of drought for this early in the year. Some 2,000 firefighters are battling more than 350 fires across British Columbia.Īuthorities on Thursday requested an extra 1,000 international firefighters to help tackle blazes that have burned 1.2 million hectares of forest in the province so far this year, far above the 10-year average of 76,000 hectares. At this incredibly difficult time, I’m sending my deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and her fellow firefighters," Trudeau said on Twitter.īritish Columbia Premier David Eby said in a statement the death was a "tremendous loss for everyone involved with the BC Wildfire Service at an already challenging time". "The news from British Columbia – that one of the firefighters bravely battling wildfires has lost her life – is heartbreaking. There are currently three wildfires burning within 30 miles of Revelstoke, and two are considered out of control, according to BC Wildfire Service. The woman had been tackling a fire outside the town of Revelstoke, around 310 miles (500 km) northeast of Vancouver, the union said. It identified her as a woman but did not provide her name. General Employees' Union announced the death of the firefighter in a statement late on Thursday. REVELSTOKE, British Columbia (Reuters) -Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday paid tribute to firefighter killed while battling a forest blaze in British Columbia, as wildfires continue to rage across the country and the western province requested an extra 1,000 international firefighters.
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