Chinook Emergency Response (CERS) will be bringing S100 [basic fire suppression and safety certificate] training opportunities to the community over the winter.
At a community meeting Oct. 18, Scott Zayac from CERS said they are encouraging everyone to take the training in preparation for the 2024 wildfire season.
“The basic firefighting course is good for one year and everyone is supposed to have it if they’re going to be fighting fires with B.C. Wildfire Service. If we train this winter, we will be good for next summer,” said Zayac.
The group is also hoping to enhance its equipment situation, according to Sharon Vare, another member of CERS.
The Cheslatta community currently has eight available wildfire trailers and Vare stated there is potential for an additional three more.
“This is very exciting, particularly for those on the long-tail row to get a trailer out there,” she said.
Cheslatta Carrier Nation is working with Rio Tinto to purchase these additional trailers.
Zayac added during this past summer more than $70,000 of safety, communication and firefighting equipment were purchased with financial grants from the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society.
He mentioned more pumps, hoses and safety equipment will be purchased in preparation to fight future wildfires. Vare stated next year’s goal will be to fully stock every trailer with identical equipment.
“This summer has taught us that there’s certain pieces of equipment that need to be purchased,” she said.
Two new leaders have also been appointed for CERS’s Neighbourhood POD project [a household and neighbourhood watch over program]. POD leaders within a particular zone have the responsibility to update the public about upcoming meetings, events and address all emergency situations within their POD areas.
RDBN director Clint Lambert and Jeremy Fleming from Cheslatta Carrier Nation Forestry shared their wildfire fighting stories from the summer.
While fighting the fires this season, Fleming said he realized necessity of having reliable communication, specifically naming Starlink, a satellite internet provider.
“Its amazing to have communication on site and anywhere you go,” he said.
Lambert added he was once in need of chainsaws create a firebreak. With Starlink, it was possible for him to communicate with others to bring the chainsaws.
Lambert also stated drones with infrared cameras are useful equipment to track down wildfires and it would be great for the community to have five or six of them.
“We weren’t privileged to have helicopters every day. A drone would have saved us a lot of our ground,” he said.
Lambert also mentioned that CERS was brought to this year’s Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in Vancouver and were applauded for their dedication to fighting wildfires.
“I think they’re starting to come around to the realization that they’re not the only ones that know how to fight fire and they’re overwhelmed.”
Overall, there were 48 wildfires in the area between April and August and 27 of those fires were fought by community members and volunteers.
CERS is also requesting everyone to sign up for their membership so it is easier for them to update the community with newsletters.
Finally, Zayac and Vare noted their heartfelt gratitude for fundraising effort by the students of Grassy Plains Elementary where the community meeting was held. The students have a goal to raise $1000, which will be donated 100 per cent to CERS.
