For the second year in a row, the Courtenay Fire Department is answering the call from the Province of British Columbia to assist with the fight against wildfires in BC’s interior.

This year, a crew of four firefighters along with equipment, a pumper truck, and a small pickup truck are heading to Fort St. James.

The crew from Courtenay left on Tuesday morning.

The Fort St. James District has issued a State of Local Emergency due to the Shovel Lake Wildfire, and area residents are under an evacuation alert.

Deputy Fire Chief Kurt Macdonald said the Courtenay Fire Department’s experience in the BC Interior last year will serve them well this year. “Last year, we had a series of crews assist with wildfires in the Williams Lake area,” noted MacDonald. “Not only did our crews perform important work in the area, they also gained valuable skills."

Macdonald also noted the department’s continued local readiness.

“Our first priority is of course our own community and fire protection districts, and we can assure the community that adequate resources remain in place here in Courtenay.”