VANCOUVER - Military aircraft and many of the armed forces personnel loaned to British Columbia by the federal government at the height of the wildfire season are preparing to return to their home bases.
A news release from the Department of National Defence says most federal resources will be sent home as officials in B.C. determine there's no longer a need for mop-up support on wildfires in the Okanagan.
About 100 personnel, mostly reservists from three separate Canadian brigade groups, will stay in southern B.C. to help with a fire near Princeton.
Canadian Armed Forces planes carried more than 47,000 kilograms of freight, transported 115 passengers and conducted 49 reconnaissance flights and other missions over the wildfires in the weeks after B.C. requested assistance on Aug. 13.
More than 400 soldiers and other personnel assisted with mop-up, aircraft maintenance and various other duties during the deployment.
B.C. declared a provincial state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires flared in August, but rescinded the order last Friday as all but the southeastern corner of the province is now listed at a low to very low risk of further fires.
