Federal officials are in Prince George meeting with the Vice-Chair of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD).

Chair Al Richmond says although he will not be in attendance, they will be looking for the Feds, as well as provincial government, to provide economic assistance during the current wildfire situation.

“We’re trying to raise the long-term issue which that is causing us grave concern is the impact particularly in the Cariboo-Chilcotin on our cattle industry. These folks have been really hit hard by fires as far back as 2010 and the devastation, my understanding now, is even more so than those times.”

President of the BC Cattlemen’s Association Kevin Boon says although he hesitates to even guess the economic losses, it is in the millions.

He stresses the dependence on evaluation afterwards involves how many lost cattle, how many fences will need to be replaced, how much infrastructure is destroyed, as well as hay and feed losses.

Richmond says another long-term concern is also the mid-term timber supply and that a lot of it which was destined for the mills has gone up in smoke.

Premier John Horgan pledged on Thursday his on-going support for the people and communities affected by wildfires in BC, as the cabinet met for the first time in Victoria.

“When we face difficult times, people and communities come together to help each other. Our government is stepping up our support of the people affected by the devastating wildfires.”

Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty toured the affected areas earlier this week, stopping in Williams Lake on Wednesday.

– with files from Rebecca Kelly, My Cariboo Now

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