Canadian Armed Forces members from six bases across the country converged on Smithers last week, part of the federal response to the provincial government’s request for assistance in dealing with the multitude of wildfires in B.C. this year.
In all, 35 personnel arrived, a complement that included aircrew for three aircraft, aircraft mechanics, ground service personnel, support staff and headquarters personnel.
The closest personnel came from Canadian Forces Based (CFB) Comox and CFB on Vancouver Island and the farthest from CFB Shearwater in Nova Scotia.
Other personnel came from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, CFB Trenton in Ontario and CFB Bagotville in Quebec.
The aircraft arriving in Smithers were a CH 124 Sea King helicopter, a CH 146 Griffon helicopter and a multi—engine CC 130J Hercules transport.
The Sea King and the Griffon both flew out of Terrace last week as well, flying firefighters and equipment to Dease Lake and to Watson Lake.
