B.C. sending almost 100 firefighters to Ontario, after 42 deployed to Manitoba

British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the province is sending almost 100 wildland firefighters to Ontario, where fires have been threatening several communities near the Manitoba border.

Parmar says the deployment comes after B.C. sent 42 firefighters to Manitoba, where a blaze in the rural municipality of Lac du Bonnet this week destroyed 28 homes and cottages and left two people dead.

He says the deployments are part of an inter-agency agreement that allows provinces to ask each other for wildfire support. 

He says it's up to Ontario to decide where in the province it will send the B.C. firefighters.

Parmar says typical deployments to other jurisdictions last two weeks, but government is assessing the situation on a daily basis. 

Cool temperatures and rain have kept B.C.'s own fire situation manageable, Parmar says, allowing the inter-provincial deployments.

"Our priority, of course, [is] making sure that we have the resources here to fight fires in British Columbia, but we felt that we were in a good position to be able to help provide support to our neighbours," he said. 

The minister urged the public to be cautious heading into the Victoria Day long weekend. 

"As we head into the May long weekend and British Columbians in every part of our province are heading into the bush — enjoying camping, enjoying the great outdoors — they can remember that they have a role to play as well, and that's to be fire smart," he said.

The province says Category 2 and 3 open burning is prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre and parts of the Northwest Fire Centre. A summer-long Category 3 open-burning prohibition in the Kamloops Fire Centre went into effect Friday.