Skip to content

Nanaimo Mounties on wildfire duty in B.C.’s Interior

Nanaimo RCMP members to protect lives and property in wildfire zones
7706000_web1_170718-NBU-NanaimoRCMPtoWildfires---IMGP0383
Nanaimo RCMP superintendent Cameron Miller will likely be one of this city’s Mounties who will deploy to B.C.’s wildfire zones to protect life and property. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo’s RCMP officers and senior staff are gearing up to help police the province’s wildfire zones.

Police from Nanaimo are already on the ground in the Interior and more will be rotated through areas devastated by wildfires in the region.

Supt. Cameron Miller, officer in charge of Nanaimo RCMP detachment and RCMP tactical troop commander for Vancouver Island, said two of Nanaimo’s officers are already on scene.

“With this latest provincial state of emergency being declared, some tac troops have called up to provide assistance in the the area of Williams Lake, Cache Creek, 100 Mile House to respond to the fires,” Miller said. “Towns are being evacuated and need additional policing support, so as the tac troop commander, I’m working with the tac troop and with detachment commanders up and down Vancouver Island to identify resources that can go up and can assist members up there and relieve some of the burden.”

Another member from Nanaimo was sent to the area Wednesday and four more were scheduled to travel to the region.

Miller said he expects to rotate four people into the area weekly until the state of emergency is concluded.

“Right now, the plan is to send people up there one week at a time,” Miller said. “They’re travel up there and do one week of duties – and there’s various duties that are taking place right now, whether it’s protecting an evacuated city, whether it’s manning checkpoints, whether it’s working in the command centre – and after a one-week rotation, they’re return back to their home unit and another team will go up and relieve them.”

Miller said the staff rotation will not negatively affect policing in Nanaimo and he expects he will rotate in as a commander for one as well.

“I’ve been told to stand by, that I will likely be deployed at some point in a command role, and what we’re doing now is just waiting to see where we’re working, between the divisional emergency operations centre and the command post on scene, and I will fill in whatever role I’ve been tasked with and I’ll look forward to contributing the best I can to help the situation,” Miller said.

He said the primary objectives for the RCMP are to work with civic officials, protect life, property and infrastructure.

“This is one that’s being controlled by Mother Nature and we’re responding. Our primary goal, No. 1 objective, is the safety of the community and the citizens and our members that are up there,” Miller said.

photos@nanaimobulletin.com



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
Read more