200-member B.C. crew off to Oregon wildfires, 200 more may be assigned: Premier

Two hundred British Columbia firefighters are heading to Oregon to help with devastating wildfires in that state.

A joint statement from the premier's office and the Ministry of Forests says the firefighters and related personnel are being sent to Redmond, Ore. '

It also says discussions are underway with officials in Oregon and Washington state regarding deployment of another 200-member contingent from B.C.

All the firefighters are BC Wildfire Service employees and officials say they will work separately from U.S. crews given the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier John Horgan says 800 wildfire service employees volunteered for service in the U.S. northwest, which makes him ``very proud.''

U.S. officials say dozens of wildfires are burning across California and Idaho, as well as Washington and Oregon, and firefighters have been requested from Canada, nine other U.S. states and as far away as Israel.