Truckers hauled fuel, water and relief into B.C.'s wildfire zone
In July 2021, after fire destroyed most of Lytton, carriers delivered supplies under hours-of-service relief while rail damage added to supply chain strain.
In early July 2021, after a wildfire destroyed about 90 per cent of Lytton, B.C., trucks carrying fuel, drinking water, fire camp units and heavy equipment moved into the area to support firefighting and cleanup.
Drivers on the fire lines
Gord Cooper, owner of OCEAN Hauling and Hotshot, left Calgary on July 1, 2021, to deliver Jet A1 fuel for helicopters fighting the fires. He described having to turn a 17,000-litre fuel truck around north of Lytton, in about 200 metres, as fire approached from both sides of the road.
B.C.-based Nortrans Freight Management worked with the BC Trucking Association (BCTA), the Trucks for Change network and BlueTriton Brands to deliver a full trailer of bottled water to the Lower Nicola evacuation centre near Merritt on July 5.
Hours-of-service relief
B.C.'s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch told the BCTA it would allow hours-of-service exemptions for drivers moving relief goods, and would let them delay trip inspections until after delivery. It stressed that carriers and drivers were still responsible for making sure drivers did not operate while impaired by fatigue.
Supply chain impact
The fires also damaged rail lines used by CN and CP, creating a container backlog for West Coast ports. In July 6 and 7 updates to customers, ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd warned of delays of 72 to 96 hours and said reduced rail car supply was adding to congestion at Vancouver terminals.
As of July 7, 2021, the B.C. Wildfire Service counted 747 wildfires so far that year, 204 of them active.