NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2009FOR0019-000085 July 7, 2009

Ministry of Forests and Range

 

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW WILDFIRE COORDINATION CENTRE

 

KAMLOOPS – The Province is one step closer to fighting wildfires faster and better as construction starts on the new Wildfire Coordination Centre, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake and Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger announced today.

 

“The new Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre will be the hub for all wildfire activities, which will include the province’s aviation services, fire weather forecasting, and the existing airtanker dispatch,” said Lake. “The facility will be equipped with the latest technology, making us better at managing wildfires and strengthening B.C.’s global reputation for firefighting.”

 

Consolidating firefighting co-ordination services in Kamloops will help in staff recruitment, integrating business processes, as well as reducing costs through less business travel and rental charges.

 

“As the weather in the area gets warmer and lightning storms begin, we must all be aware of the potential threat and devastation of wildfires and do our part to reduce the number of person-caused fires,” said Krueger. “We need to concentrate our forest firefighting resources and efforts on lightning-caused fires.”

 

At a cost of $4.47 million, Ledcor Construction will be building the Centre to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold facility standards. For example, the facility’s air and water systems will be completely heated and cooled using geothermal heating technology, an efficient and environmentally-friendly energy alternative.

 

“With the Kamloops region being the most active for wildfires in the province, having all these protection services in the same area just makes sense,” said Bell. “Our crews are among the best in the world, and this new, state-of-the-art Centre will better support them in their efforts to protect both people and property.”

 

            The new Wildfire Coordination Centre is scheduled to be completed and staffed in time for the 2010 fire season.

 

This project is part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of the province.

 

 

 

            The highly-trained staff of the Wildfire Management Branch is equipped with the latest detection and fire suppression technologies. But each year, half of all wildfires are human-caused, diverting those resources away from naturally-occurring lightning-caused fires. The public is urged to be extremely vigilant while conducting any open burning and to check for any restrictions in their area. Please continue to report smoke and flames by calling toll-free 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks.

 

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Note to editors:  Artists’ renderings of the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre can be obtained at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/media/.

 

Contact:

Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592 PABFOR.MediaRequests@gov.bc.ca

 

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