South African Crews Join B.C. Wildfire Fight As Australians Leave

The Canadian Press, 11 Aug, 2015 11:14 AM

VANCOUVER — Fighting wildfires in British Columbia has been an international effort this year.

About 25 people from South Africa are helping to battle a 13-square kilometre blaze burning near Harrison Hot Springs in the eastern Fraser Valley.

The crew arrived last week as another team from Australia prepared to wrap up work in B.C. and about 100 firefighting personnel from Ontario have also returned home.

Fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek says about 1,400 people are currently working to extinguish fires across the province.

There have been 1,447 fires this year, including 127 that are currently burning.

Skrepnek says the province has spent about $190 million fighting wildfires this year.

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