With wildfire season underway, the Cariboo Fire Centre said it will need heavy equipment contractors to help with fighting fires in 2015.
"We need bulldozers, excavators, low-bed trailers, water tenders, feller bunchers, skidders, forwarders, etc. for the 2015 fire season," said Emily Epp, communications specialist with the BC Wildfire Management Branch. "We would love to hear from anyone who is willing to be hired."
So far the CFC hasn't received as many applications from interested equipment owners as it normally does, Epp said, noting heavy equipment operators supplement the efforts of the regular fire crews by felling trees on to fires or digging guards to help prevent a fire from spreading.
The amount of equipment necessary is dictated by fire activity, Epp added.
"The ideal level of preparedness is to have four to six pieces of equipment available to hire for each of the Cariboo Fire Centre's four planning zones — Quesnel, 100 Mile House, the Chilcotin and Williams Lake/Horsefly."
Anyone interested in making their equipment available for hire is asked to contact the logistics section for more information at 250-989-2621.
Earlier this week two crews of 20 personnel each were deployed from the Cariboo Fire Centre to help battle the Little Bobtail Lake wildfire near Prince George.
By Wednesday the Wildfire Management Branch website said the fire had grown to burning 8,000 hectares and noted the fire is showing unpredictable and aggressive fire behaviour.