Burnaby firefighters are in the thick of the battle against wildfires burning in B.C.’s Interior.
Two engine companies, including a captain and three firefighters each, along with a support vehicle pulling a supply trailer, were deployed to Williams Lake Friday evening under the leadership of deputy fire Chief Dave Samson.
Before getting even halfway there, the crews were diverted to Cache Creek and put to work in the wee hours of the morning 16 kilometres north of town along Loon Lake and Scottie Creek roads, protecting structures and trying to stop the fire from crossing the roads.
“They are assisting forestry crews with controlled burns,” Burnaby fire Chief Joe Robertson told the NOW Monday afternoon. “They’re burning around structures and our guys are protecting the structures, and that way if the fire comes that way, there’s nothing to burn around the structure anymore and the place is fine.”
Burnaby crews have also spent all-night shifts patrolling Loon Lake and Scottie Creek roads.
“They did lose some houses along those roads before our guys got up there,” Robertson said. “Their intent is to not lose any more houses. So far so good.”
There’s been nothing but praise from his firefighters, about the work forestry crews are doing, according to the chief.
“They said (the forestry crews) are really well trained, really professional and they work their butts off,” Robertson said.
The Burnaby crews are among a second wave of personnel and equipment from Lower Mainland fire departments being deployed to the region.
It isn’t the first time local firefighters have travelled far afield to help with fire and rescue operations.
Burnaby firefighters helped with the Kelowna and Barriere wildfires in 2003, the floods in High River, Alta. in 2013 and the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal in 2015.
“Emergency service workers typically do what they do because they have a passion to help people,” Robertson said. “In this case, it’s not just our folks that want to help out; it’s everybody.”
Firefighter Frank Loughrey said he had an opportunity to help with the devastating Okanagan wildfires in 2003 as a member of the army reserves, and that experience motivated him to sign up to help this time.
“Seeing what it meant to people, even just having us there in presence, meant a lot,” he said, “so being able to do that right now for a second time is why I want to do it.”
About 120 local firefighters have signed up to go, and they have the city’s full support, according to Robertson.
“Mayor and council are totally committed to this,” he said. “They’re eager for us to participate.”
Firefighters will spend weeklong shifts in the Interior before new crews are rotated in.
They are being compensated according to an agreement signed with the firefighters’ union.
Because of an increase in provincial funding for such work, the chief expects the city to recover most of the cost of the missions.
“We expect that it should work out fairly well for the city,” Robertson said. “There might be some minor cost, but it should be fairly even cost recovery.”
Since the wildfire situation in the Interior is fluid, plans for what Burnaby crews will be doing in the coming days have already changed more than once.
“They’re working really hard, so they’re tired, but really enjoying what they’re doing,” Robertson said.
