First responders from Delta have answered the call in lending their support to the province’s wildfire fighting efforts.
A Delta staff member and a Delta firefighter have been deployed to Williams Lake where they are assisting in the planning section of the Caribou Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) while six Delta police officers have been deployed to various locations around Williams Lake and 100 Mile House conducting a variety of duties as required.
“We [staff, Delta Police and Delta Fire] actually met in a tent at last weekend’s Tour de Delta to decide how we were going to proceed, what was needed and who would go,” said Mayor Lois Jackson. “We told the province that we were on standby and ready. We have always offered to go when called upon because we know how important it is when you have limited resources and little towns that don’t have the equipment and personnel. We are also grateful when others assist us, like they did last year with the Burns Bog fire.”
Hundreds of wildfires are burning, many out of control, for days across the Interior and Cariboo regions, destroying property and displacing tens of thousands of residents.
“Our thoughts, prayers, and best wishes go out to all the first responders, equipment operators, and residents as they continue their valiant fight,” added Jackson.
Delta police officers are being deployed for four to seven days at a time and will be re-deployed as the situations dictates, said public affairs coordinator Sharlene Brooks.
“This is a critical situation in which the RCMP require assistance from across the province. Delta Police, recognizing the gravity of this situation, have answered the call and have deployed officers to assist in this emergency,” said Brooks.
Delta residents wishing to lend their support can do so in a number of ways: to donate $10 to the Canadian Red Cross BC Fires Appeal, text FIRES to 45678. Larger donations can also be made through the Red Cross website at redcross.ca.BC Liquor Store customers can give $2, $4 or more the next time they make a purchase, with all proceeds going to support those affected, providing evacuees with food, water and shelter. Several restaurants in South Delta including White Spot and Boston Pizza are also donating funds from the sale of certain menu items to help aid firefighting and recovery efforts. And Otter Co-op has set up cash donation boxes at all their retail locations including their gas bar in Ladner on Ladner Trunk Road. All money collected will go to the Red Cross.
