US and BC Pledge Continued Wildfire Cooperation Despite Pressures

Despite budget cuts and restructuring within the US Forest Service (USFS), US and Canadian wildfire agencies say cross-border wildfire assistance agreements remain in place, CBC News reported (5-17-26).

“Any budget changes do not affect our firefighting capacity or limit our ability to provide support under our long-standing agreements,” the USFS national press team said in a statement to CBC News, adding that cooperation with the BC Wildfire Service will remain unchanged.

BC Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said British Columbia is also prepared to support US wildfire response efforts despite ongoing trade tensions between the two countries.

“Let me be very clear when it comes to fighting fires, we will always be there to support Americans in their time of need,” Parmar said.

Parmar added that the current wildfire season could prove especially difficult for BC, as large parts of the province are already experiencing drought conditions.