The Minister of Forests says the BC Wildfire Service is prepared to adjust as needed because of COVID-19.

Doug Donaldson says protocols have been developed for staff in his ministry in light of the pandemic.

“When we get further into the fire season, we’ve got protocols in place specifically developed by BC Wildfire Service management around camp situations, around keeping safe distance in the accommodation end, having the ability to keep people separate from the each other, the travel to the fires. All of that has been put in place.”

In the peak of summer, the Wildfire Service employs about 1,500 personnel, as well as contractors to fight fires.

Donaldson’s comments on provincial firefighters comes after his Ministry has allowed 5,000 workers to go ahead with replanting 314 million trees this year in B.C.’s Interior, with protective measures in place because of COVID-19.