White Rock firefighters are joining the ranks of those

As of Sunday morning, members of White Rock Fire Rescue were deployed to assist in provincial wildfire-fighting efforts.

Chief Phil Lemire told Peace Arch News Monday that a three-member unit had been sent to a staging centre in Kelowna for easier deployment, as and when needed.

A deputy has also been sent to the Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre, based in Prince George, he said.

鈥淲e could potentially send more, but that鈥檚 the one available unit we do have,鈥� Lemire said.

He added that the unit was requested by the office of the Fire Commissioner and Emergency Management BC, on the basis of information provided earlier this year by White Rock Fire Rescue.

鈥淔ire departments are usually asked what resources they may have available in the spring (for wildfire fighting), so the commissioner鈥檚 office knows what鈥檚 available when,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any other municipalities have been called on since July 1, when things started to escalate. (The commissioner鈥檚 office) is working their way through their list.鈥�

A month later, there鈥檚 still a good chance that the White Rock unit will be directly involved in firefighting efforts in the field, Lemire said.

鈥淚t comes down to what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� he added, noting that municipal departments鈥� units are typically called in to assist with protecting town and city structures, such as happened earlier in the month in Williams Lake.

According to B.C. Wildfire Service figures, 133 wildfires were still burning as of Monday morning.

鈥淐onditions in the interior are at an extreme, particularly with the current hot weather advisory we鈥檙e all getting,鈥� Lemire said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to diminish any time soon.鈥�

According to a City of White Rock news release Sunday afternoon, the city has also been providing emergency social services staff to the evacuee reception centre in Chilliwack for the past week.

White Rock Fire Rescue and the city will continue to assist in and evacuee services wherever it can, the press release said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not like we have an abundance of resources, but it鈥檚 good to be able to assist in this where we can,鈥� Lemire said.