five_alarm
04-22-2004, 07:20 AM
KAMLOOPS - The manager of the provincial air tanker centre in Kamloops likened it to "getting a couple of queens in a chess game." This was Jeff Berry's response to Premier Gordon Campbell's announcement Saturday that two air tankers were added to supplement this year's forest firefighting effort. The announcement, made at the Kamloops Airport, also introduced initiatives aimed at fulfilling the recommendations of the Gary Filmon wildfire report presented earlier this year. Though based in Williams Lake, the two Convair 580s will boost the air tanker centre's ability to respond to wildfires, said Berry. As pieces are moved on a chess board, so, too, are the aircraft from the 18 tanker bases in B.C. during times of wildfire. "This increases our fleet volume by 20 per cent and reduces our reliance on other provinces," Berry added. In addition to the aircraft, the premier announced extra help on the ground by installing five new unit crews.
Source: Kamloops this Week (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=15()cat=23()id=222906()more=&linkid=559&parent=news(headlines)&)
Source: Kamloops this Week (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=15()cat=23()id=222906()more=&linkid=559&parent=news(headlines)&)