Alberta firefighters, RCMP head to B.C. to assist with raging wildfires

About 100 first responders have temporarily left Alberta's smoke-filled air behind, moving a province west, where conditions are much worse.

Firefighters and RCMP members have been deployed to British Columbia to help local crews dealwith hundreds of fires burning across the province.

• Smoke from raging B.C. fires seen from space by NASA satellite
• B.C. declares state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires burn across province

A total of 47 Alberta firefighters and support staff have been sent to B.C., said Lynn Daina, an information officer for the Fort McMurray forest area.

They really do get to know each other across the country and that bond is very strong.- LynnDaina, FortMcMurrayforest area information officer

Two four-person crews from Fort McMurray arrived in the Prince George area on Friday, she said. They'll work alongside a team from Peace River.

• Crews watch winds closely as biggest blaze grows west of Prince George

"Right now, Alberta is quite quiet wildfire-wise," Daina said. "We don't have really anything on the go, so our crews are available to go where they're needed."

Additional resources were also needed to tackle the Sage Creek wildfireburning a few kilometres west of theAlberta border, she said. Seven support staff from Fort McMurray were sent to the Calgary area, offering assistance with resource management and fire behaviour analysis.

Just two summers ago, it was B.C. that was sending firefighters to Alberta to help with the Fort McMurray fire.

• B.C. firefighters welcome care packages from Fort McMurray

"It's a very tight-knit community. And any of the wildland firefighters that have been around for awhile, they really do get to know each other across the country and that bond is very strong," she said.

"Wherever we can help eachother out, that's the first thing that is top of mind for everyone."

RCMP returning the favour

B.C. also deployed police officers in Fort McMurray in 2016. Alberta RCMP returned the favour last year, and are doing so again this wildfire season.

About 48 officers have been sent to central B.C., where conditions are severe, said Dawn Roberts, communications director for B.C. RCMP.

• 150 B.C. Mounties heading to help fire-ravaged FortMcMurray

The specialized tactical operations officers are trained to deal with crisis situations, and their main task is to help with evacuations.

"We have to also provide core policing services the response to 911," Roberts said. "So by having additional resources in to deal with just fire-related activities, is definitely an asset."

Roberts noted this year's wildfire season is particularly challenging, as the fires aren't concentrated in one area.

"Literally every fire operation centre in British Columbia is dealing with some challenging fires," she said.

"So it's a lot more challenging for us, whereas before we would've been able to say on any given day 'have an extra 150 [officers] just in Williams Lake' last year. Now, we're trying to supplement multiple locations around the province."

• More stories about wildfires in B.C.

Officers will do seven-day deployments, working shifts that can easily exceed 12 hours, before getting time off or returning home, Roberts said.

So far, B.C. hasn't requested support from RCMP from provinces other than Alberta.