On Saturday August 18, the City of Maple Ridge deployed four firefighters, Engine 32 to assist their colleagues in dealing with this unprecedented fire emergency. The crew has arrived safely in Kelowna and has been deployed as part of a task force to protect homes in the Lake Country. They are being billeted at the UBC campus in Kelowna with firefighters from around BC.
 
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by this fire. Many of us have friends and family in the Okanagan and Shuswap Lake region, and it is utterly heartbreaking to see people’s homes and businesses succumb to fire. Maple Ridge is proud to support the call for resources by the Province as part of the BC State of Emergency, and I am grateful for the fast deployment of resources by the Maple Ridge Fire Department to lend assistance,” said Mayor Ruimy.
 
He continued, “It has been a relentless week for the Central Okanagan’s Fire Departments, BC Wildfire Service and first responders in the Interior. I know that cities around the province are sending crews and equipment to help bolster the work of the local crews who have been working tirelessly to protect people and their homes. We salute their tenacity and bravery in this terrible situation.”
 
“The firefighting community is a close-knit group, and we are proud to be able to support our colleagues as they deal with this devastating fire. Our crew will work shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues in the Central Okanagan communties to help protect people, homes and the environment. In addition to providing support for first responders in Kelowna, our crew will gain important experience and knowledge that they will bring back to our community. This experience will make us more resilient,” said Geoffrey Spriggs, Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Maple Ridge.
 
“The conditions across BC are tinder dry, and we need everyone to be mindful of the fire bans that are in place in our region. Maple Ridge is a community on the forest interface and we all need to take the time to educate ourselves on how we can minimize the risks around our home, and be prepared for an evacuation,” said Chief Spriggs.
 
You can learn more about Emergency Planning on the City website at www.mapleridge.ca/1181.
 
Residents are also reminded to sign up for the Alert Maple Ridge notification system powered by the Voyent Alert App. Learn more about the system on the City website at www.mapleridge.ca/2730.
 
This system allows you to get notifications on your smartphone or tablet in the event of an emergency.