Officers off to Fort Mac

Photo: Darren Handschuh

UPDATE: 4:25 P.M.

The RCMP in B.C. will be sending approximately 150 police officers to assist in Fort McMurray, according to Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, media relations spokesperson.

“The police officers being redeployed to assist Fort McMurray will be primarily comprised of tactical troop members and traffic services officers. Both are used to being redeployed on short notice for serious events,” said Vermeulen.

He said local needs and contingencies were taken into consideration to ensure detachments across the province would not be adversely affected during the deployment.

UPDATE: 3:45 P.M.

Kelowna RCMP Const. Jesse O'Donaghey is also being sent to Fort McMurray to help.

"I have learned today that I am being deployed in a media relations capacity to northern Alberta to assist our partners battling the Fort McMurray wildfire," he said Monday afternoon.
 
He said he will be away for the remainder of this week and into next week.

ORIGINAL

At least one member of the North Okanagan RCMP has been sent to Fort McMurray to help out.

Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy, who occasionally also acts as the media liaison officer, will be in the northern Alberta city for the next two weeks.

It is not known if other officers from the area are being temporarily transferred or what Noseworthy's role will be, as officials with the RCMP did not return requests for more information.

With the entire city of Fort McMurray under evacuation, emergency resources are stretched thin.

Vernon Fire Rescue deputy fire Chief Jack Blair said he's unaware of firefighters from Vernon helping in Alberta.