The Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society has received the remaining funding from the Nadleh Whut’en and Stellat’en First Nations for a local Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Unit, per a news release issued by the Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society.
With 2017 being the worst wildfire season in British Columbia’s history, Fraser Lake Fire Rescue states that they have identified a gap when it comes to trained Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Unit Specialists and units in northern B.C.
“The Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society’s purposes are to provide a safe, adaptive and challenging training environment for regional firefighters, other emergency services organizations and industry first responders.” says Dave Christie the President of the Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society.
Christie explains that Sprinkler Protection Unit training is instrumental in combating wildfires, with this funding giving the Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society the necessary tools to help province wide.
“Our Regional Fire Rescue Training Facility will provide a safe training environment, create realistic training scenarios and include a Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Unit,” says Christie. “The Sprinkler Protection Unit (SPU) training will assist in filling this provincial wide SPU Specialist void. An SPU being available for training SPU Specialists and available to use in case of a wildfire in our area will add further protective resources to the entire region.”
Christie went on to explain just how important the partnership with the neighbouring First Nations communities has been for this initiative.
“This partnership between our neighbouring First Nations is historic,” says Christie. “Over the past year we have been working closely with our neighbours and together we identified the SPU would be the best and most efficient way to protect our communities.”
“The Fraser Lake Training Society started raising the funds needed ($187,950) for the SPU and train the trainer course in November of 2017,” continues Christie. “We had raised $108,000 from local fundraising, Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund and Four Rivers Co-op up to February 2018. We were still $80,000 from our target and donations of $40,000 from both Nadleh Whut’en and Stellat’en First Nations put us over the goal line. Our goal is to have the SPU unit in Fraser Lake, and training to start by the end of this June.”
Chief Larry Nooski of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation believes that this funding will go a long way in years to come.
“Being prepared by having trained firefighting personnel and armed with the proper equipment will give our members and the people in the region a peace of mind knowing we can stay in our respective community’s.” says Nooski. “We need to put into place the means to protect people and property from wildfire — Nadleh Whut’en can ill afford to lose any housing or infrastructure to wildfire. Nadleh Whut’en has trained firefighters and will now have access to proper firefighting equipment which gives us the ability to remain in our community to protect our homes.”
Chief Archie Patrick of the Stellat’en First Nation echoed the sentiment.
“We are pleased to be able to contribute to the welfare of our neighbours,” says Patrick.
Per information found in the news release, a Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Unit (SPU) is a fully equipped mobile trailer that can be quickly mobilized if need be. The SPU is listed as an efficient wildfire protection system, housing 2.5 miles of hose, five water pumps, two 2500 gallon water bladders and hundreds of sprinkler heads, among other equipment.
According to the news release, the SPU can be set up in rough terrain, while also being able to protect large areas and structures. The SPU is primarily used to make things wet, as if they are wet, they will not burn.