Manitoba firefighters head to British Columbia to battle wildfires

Manitoba firefighters are on their way to combat the out-of-control wildfires in British Columbia's interior.

A dozen firefighters and their supervisor boarded a plane in Winnipeg on Thursday morning, joining colleagues from other provinces who have already jumped into the battle.

"We're going to be heading to Vancouver and then switching over to Prince George to help with the fires that they so desperately need help with," said Joey Miswagon, a firefighter from Cross Lake who is part of the Manitoba group.

Braden Riley, another member of the crew, said they learned just two days ago that they would be getting shipped out. They were doing maintenance work on equipment when their boss called them over the radio to come to his office.

"We thought we were in trouble," Riley said. "But once we got in there, he told us we were going to B.C., so we were pretty excited. All of us jumped on it pretty quick."

He's never worked on a fire that required so many people on the ground and said he's looking forward to the experience.

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"I know if my province was burning or the public safety was in danger, I'd want other crews to come out if they could," Riley said. "Everybody kind of needs to bond together when the time gets tough."

At last count, some 220 fires were raging in B.C. About 14,000 people have been forced out of their homes.

The Manitoba crew will stay in B.C. for 14 days before returning home.

Manitoba firefighters head to B.C. to battle wildfires

7 years ago

Duration 0:28

Manitoba firefighters are on their way to combat the out-of-control wildfires in British Columbia's interior. A dozen firefighters and their supervisor boarded a plane in Winnipeg on Thursday morning, joining colleagues from other provinces who have already jumped into the battle.