Canada Fighting Fires with help from US Taxpayers

VICTORIA, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian wildfire management agencies are
moving wildfire intelligence expenses to the US federal government and the US
taxpayer while they keep their domestic wildfire intelligence aircraft on the
tarmac.
Over the past three weeks, jet aircraft from the US National Infrared
Operations (NIROPs) have conducted nightly flights over wildfires in British
Columbia, providing airborne surveillance and thermal imaging to Canadian
authorities. Meanwhile, Range and Bearing Environmental Resource Mapping
Corporation, the Canadian wildfire intelligence provider, has had its
assignments cancelled.
A diplomatic note, part of the CANUS Forest Fire Mutual Sharing arrangement
between Canada and the USA, allows Canadian Wildfire Management agencies to
sideline their local resources and technology and request emergency assistance
from the US federal government reconnaissance aircraft (and other military
assets) at a subsidized rate.
Doug Campbell, President of Range and Bearing, says three groups are losing
out. "First, the Canadian service providers can't compete with US Government
subsidized resources. Second, the US taxpayer is helping to pay for Canadian
wildfire management expenses. And third, wildfire management agencies in the
US are left in a vulnerable position, with the star of the US Government
Wildfire Intelligence fleet tied up in Canada when federal aviation assets are
already limited."

SOURCE Range and Bearing Environmental Resource Mapping Corporation

Range and Bearing Environmental Resource Mapping Corporation (the Canadian
wildfire intelligence provider): Doug Campbell, President, (mobile) (250)
812-3709, http://www.awis.ca; Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (their
board of directors manages international sharing agreements and how they are
used): David Bokovay, (204) 784-2030, www.ciffc.ca; USDA Forest Service
(provider of the National Infrared Operations (NIROPs) that is shared from the
US Government): Paul Linse, Aviation Mgmt. Specialist, Fire Aviation
Management, U.S.F.S. - Washington Office, (202) 205-0974 Office, (202)
557-1545 Cell; National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) (the USA counterpart to
CIFFC): www.nifc.gov/nicc/admin/contact_us.htm, (208) 387-5050 or (208)
387-5512; Natural Resources Canada (responsible for funding 33% of CIFFC):
Minister Lisa Raitt, (613) 996-7046, www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca; British Columbia
Ministry of Forests and Range, Wildfire Management Branch (dropped Canadian
Wildfire Intelligence resources to take advantage of the US Government
subsidized resources): Minister Pat Bell, (250) 387-6240, Brian Simpson, (250)
356-1068, Bruce Young, (250) 387-3735, bcwildfire.ca