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They came to help

First Nations firefighter with a yellow backpack and wearing a blue ball cap.

Feature photo:
First Nations firefighter Kenny Edwards

Photo credit:
James Murray, Salmon Arm Observer, c. 1998

We had four First Nations crews on the Silver Creek fire. The crews came from Sto:lo, Riske Creek, Merritt, and Vernon. Of the 44 people involved on these crews I think there were only one or two that were not First Nations people.

Roy Benson, Fire Boss

First Nations firefighters dressed in red shirts and black pants sit on wooden tent platform as sun sets.

Forest Service firefighters Cass Seymour and David James at the end of a shift.

Four off duty firefighters from a Unit Crew wearing t-shirts.

The Ministry of Forests drew on its resources from around the province. Pictured here are firefighters from the Coastal Fire Centre: Helmer Mussel, Kenny Edwards, Frank John, and James Gult. For more
information see:
http://bcwildfire.ca/aboutus/organization/Coastal/Zones