The BC Government says 34 firefighters from Australia will be arriving in the province tomorrow, July 27, to help in the fight against wildfires.

It will include one nine-person incident management team along others who will be in with various specialized operational leadership roles like task force leaders, divisional supervisors, and technical specialists.

The Australian contingent is expected to arrive in Vancouver at about 5:30 p.m., tomorrow. Once briefed on the wildfire situation, they will be deployed under the direction of the BC Wildfire Service.

“Australia and Canada have a long history of helping each other out when wildfire activity is high,” Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said, in a statement.

“During this extremely challenging fire season, we greatly appreciate the support we’re receiving from Canadian provinces, the federal government and our partners abroad.”

Just like other out-of-province resources, the firefighters from Australia will live and work in their own bubbles because of COVID-19.

“It’s encouraging to see the support we’re receiving from Australia as we continue to strengthen our firefighting response,” Public Safety Minister, Mike Farnworth, added. “That country has also experienced extremely difficult fire seasons recently, so they understand our situation and I’m pleased they are providing assistance.”

The Australian firefighters are joining hundreds of other out-of-province personnel in B.C., including 113 from Quebec who arrived last Friday, July 23, and 101 Mexicans who arrived on Saturday, July 24. It takes the total number of people involved in B.C.’s firefighting operations to 3,558 – including 1,252 contractors.

The cost of bringing in these out-of-province firefighting personnel will be covered by the B.C. government.

Out-of-province firefighting personnel in British Columbia:

• Australia: 34
• Mexico: 101
• Quebec: 134
• Alberta: 61
• Nova Scotia: one
• Parks Canada: 17
• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC): one
• Canadian Armed Forces: approximately 90 as of July 23 (increasing to 250 by July 28)