The Canadian Forces are assisting with transportation efforts in areas around the wildfires in BC.

“Two rotor-wing aircraft were deployed to move RCMP members to assist in implementing the evacuation order at Loon Lake. Today, we’re looking at flying supplies into two First Nations communities in the Chilcotin including the Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek) and the Xeni Gwet’in,” says Robert Turner, assistant deputy minister with Emergency Management BC.

Both communities are located on Highway 20.

Several other planes have also been called in, Turner says. “Rotor-wing aircraft have been pre-positioned in the Chilcotin at the Puntzi Lake airstrip because of the weather and as Kevin (Skrepnek) said any of that evacuation support may be required.”

Emergency Management BC estimates that 17,400 people have been evacuated so far, 6,150 have registered with the Red Cross, which counts for 15,375 people.