(KIM ANDERSON / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - B.C.'s wildfire emergency is expected to continue. In order to combat the ongoing fire situation across the province, international assistance is on its way.

The weather forecast is predicted to remain hot and dry. According to a press release from B.C. Wildfire Service today, Aug, 6, to ensure that adequate resources are available to continue the fight, more international personnel are on the way.

More than 400 firefighting staff from New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and the United States are joining the fight, this coming week. They will join the over 3,800 personnel currently in B.C.

A variety of staff are coming, says the release. The mix of specialized staff will include incident management teams and highly trained and experienced wildland firefighting crews. This personnel will join over 3,150 personnel from British Columbia, including more than 1,450 B.C. contract personnel, as well as over 630 other out-of-province personnel.

"Given the unprecedented nature of the B.C. wildfires, we appreciate the assistance our international partners are able to provide," says Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

The cost of bringing in the international personnel will be covered by the Province of B.C.

B.C. has been in a heat wave and the hot and dry conditions have caused and maintained a high-to-extreme fire danger rating. The release states, firefighting crews are on standby across B.C.'s fire centres in preparation for an anticipated increase in fires. This is because the forecast may bring lightning.

To report a new wildfire or an open burning violation, please call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories are online or call 1 888 3-FOREST (1 888 336-7378).

You can also be kept apprised by following the situation on Facebook or Twitter.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Taylor Rae or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2017