(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

A trade war with Canada's neighbour and biggest trading partner is putting many agreements between the two countries at risk, but mutual aid among wildland firefighters won't be impacted.

That according to BC's Forest Minister Ravi Parmar, who expects the partnership with American wildfire organizations, particularly with California, to improve despite tensions with the U.S.

"Firefighters don't ask questions, they don't care what politicians have to say," the minister told iNFOnews.ca. "They run into fires."

READ MORE: More Kamloops, Okanagan travelers reconsidering US travel plans

The province and other jurisdictions, both domestic and foreign, frequently share firefighters and equipment through mutual aid agreements. They'll often head south to California or Australia, when wildfires don't conflict with the need locally.

Most recently, BC Wildfire crews went south to help with the Los Angeles wildfires in January.

While the federal government grapples with how to deal with the ever-changing tariff threats from south of the border, BC has taken its own measures, too. But, firefighting assistance is not at-risk of being pulled so far.

READ MORE: West Kelowna, Kamloops fall behind BC government's 'unrealistic' housing targets

Kamloops-Centre Conservative MLA Peter Milobar said he wouldn't couldn't on such assurances.

"We'll know that if and when we need to rely on resources from the United States," he said.

Milobar said President Donald Trump has used other levers to get what he wants from a state, suggesting if he can't directly influence California's wildfire crews, he can take indirect routes.

"If a certain state does something that's not under the presidential purview, the president will pull funding for something that is," Milobar said. "So, it's great the minister thinks we still have that relationship. Obviously you want it to be there, but I think it's a dangerous place we're in right now for ministers to be making statements like that." 

Fellow Conservative and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer raised no concerns with the California agreement, but he did say he would prefer to see a bolstered cooperation from the federal government, particularly with the military.

READ MORE: UBCO student union backpedals on Conservative club after political backlash

"I would still like more of our armed forces to be more integrated in the wildfire service," Stamer said. "That's worked in other jurisdictions, we've had them help us out in the past. I would like us to be proactive with that." 

Minister Parmar said he was recently in California's capital to meet with Cal Fire, the state's fire protection department.

"They love BC Wildfire Service, we love Cal Fire," he said. "I let them know very clearly how much we value the relationship."

Parmar said BC crews in LA included attack crews and management teams, and he expects the same assistance this year if needed.

"I'm excited about the opportunities to grow and strengthen our relationship, and learn from the challenges they face and vice versa," he said.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 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. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2025