Justin Trudeau thanks firefighters, emergency workers in visit to Prince George

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Prince George, B.C., Thursday to meet some of the workers fighting wildfires and help residents who’ve been ordered from their homes.

He first met fire protection officer Tom Reinboldt, Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall and MLA John Rustad in a briefing at the Prince George Fire Centre.

Afterward, Trudeau talked to firefighters, volunteers and Indigenous leaders in the community.

Standing outside under a smoke-filled sky, the prime minister acknowledged how difficult the wildfire season has been for B.C.

The province is in the middle of one of its worst fire seasons ever, in terms of total number of hectares burnt. Only the seasons in 2017 and 1958 were worse.

Nearly 5,000 British Columbians are under evacuation order with more than 22,000 more on evacuation alert. More than 560 fires are currently burning across the province.

Asked if Ottawa should be considering a federal response plan for forest fires across Canada, Trudeau said that sort of action is only needed “at a certain point.”

“The provincial firefighting wildfire authorities — particularly here in B.C. — are extraordinarily capable, extraordinarily good at their jobs,” he told reporters Thursday.

“The federal government is always there to support when necessary … that only becomes necessary at a certain point.”

Trudeau also said the federal government needs to do a better job making sure First Nations have what they need to fight forest fires.

He acknowledged the gaps in resources for municipalities, which work with the province on wildfires, and First Nations, which fall under federal responsibility.

“Municipalities get resources from provinces, but when the neighbouring Indigenous community turns to the province: ‘Well, we need resources. Well, you are a federal responsibility.’ We have to clear up those lines of flowing resources and ensuring people get what they need, regardless of whether they are in an Indigenous community or a non-Indigenous community,” he said.

Last year, Grand Chief Ed John of the Tl’azt’en Nation and First Nations Summit called on the federal government to create a $200-million emergency preparedness and response fund for Indigenous communities in the province.

Trudeau and the rest of the federal cabinet are in B.C. this week for a retreat in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

Earlier this week, Premier John Horgan and federal Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan visited the city together.

Trudeau will return to Nanaimo by 10 a.m. PT. The retreat wraps up later Thursday.