Across Vancouver Island, firefighters are leaving their families and their communities behind to answer a call for help as B.C. battles more than 120 active wildfires. Crews from Duncan, Sidney, Malahat, Errington and other Island fire departments are deploying to the Interior with personnel and specialized equipment to support wildfire operations and help protect communities facing challenging conditions. The Duncan Fire Department announced it has sent a three-person crew and one wildland fire apparatus to Kamloops to support the provincial wildfire response. The department said its members answered the call “without hesitation,” joining firefighters and emergency responders from across British Columbia working to protect residents and support those impacted by wildfires. “When our neighbours need help, Duncan Fire is ready to stand alongside them,” the department said in a statement on social media. Malahat Fire Rescue has deployed its Type 1 Tactical Tender as part of the provincial response. The department said its crew is working alongside resources from North Vancouver, Duncan, Oyster River, Courtenay, Ladysmith and Sechelt. The Town of Sidney Fire Department has also sent three firefighters to assist with wildfire operations, while thanking members remaining at home for continuing to provide local emergency coverage. In Errington, Fire Department Squad 231 has been deployed to assist with wildfire response near Boston Bar. The deployments highlight the provincewide network of emergency responders who step forward when communities need additional resources. As wildfire conditions continue to change, officials are reminding residents to stay informed, follow evacuation alerts and orders, and support the crews working on the front lines. For the firefighters heading into the Interior, the goal is simple: help where they are needed and return home safely.
