Regional task force on B.C. wildfire assistance standby

The raging wildfires in B.C., which have forced tens of thousands of people from their homes as the government declared a state of emergency, are bringing back some daunting memories for the Sundre Fire Department's top firefighter.

Marty Butts told the Round Up during a phone interview last week that seeing on the news images and videos of different communities burnt out by the massive blazes have conjured up some flashbacks of what he witnessed in Fort McMurray just last year.

"It's very devastating and sad to see that happening again so quickly," he said.

So the fire chief said he felt compelled to reach out to regional fire departments — Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Cremona — to put together a volunteer task force of firefighters who are ready and willing to respond to a request for assistance at any moment.

"I put the word out asking if we should see what we could put together for assets that each department could spare."

The general response from neighbouring departments was positive, with offers of manpower and equipment quickly coming in. About two dozen firefighters in the region, along with one unit from each fire hall, have been identified as available should the need arise, he said, adding an official call for help has yet to be received.

"We're on a waiting list right now. If they need somebody, they know what we've got," he said.

"We're on a day-by-day standby mode. If they want or need our assistance, they can call and we'll go at a moment's notice."

Should that request for help come in, the task force was struck specifically keeping in mind the need to ensure sufficient resources remain in the region in the event anything should happen in the area in their absence, he said.

"The reason we picked an asset from each hall is to not drain any one hall down."

Drawing a limited number of resources from each department enables the creation of a team while still having a sufficient ability to respond and protect properties and people at home, he said.

Considering local volunteer firefighters are trained for forest interface scenarios that involve combating structural fires as well as wild blazes, the chief seemed astonished that the task force has not yet been deployed.

"I still think we may get a call, I'm just surprised we haven't," he said, adding that it's a waiting game until he hears otherwise.

According to reports, B.C.'s state of emergency was last week extended for an additional two weeks, 300,000 hectares had been scorched, multiple provinces have been affected by the smoke billowing out, more than 45,000 people have been forced to evacuate, and roughly 3,000 firefighters have been deployed.

The chief hopes never to have such a situation befall communities in the area, but he knows all too well the potential risk exists and that what happened in Slave Lake in 2011, last year in Fort McMurray and in B.C. today could just as easily transpire here as well. That is why he has for several years promoted the FireSmart program.

Town and especially rural residents should seriously consider looking at taking steps to protect their assets by "fire smarting" a bit. The chief expressed concern that failure to properly maintain properties could in the scenario of a perfect storm result in a catastrophic loss to the community that might otherwise have been mitigated or at least significantly reduced with preventive measures, he said.

Fire smarting does not mean clearing out trees completely, but rather making sure potential fuel sources — from firewood stacks to propane tanks and dry brush — are properly managed, he said.

"If you live in that environment or interface world, it's your assets, your home — put that effort into it."

Visit www.sundrefiresmart.com for more information about Fire Smart.

"I'm here to kick it off in our community, there to support whoever, whenever. It's a program that I believe does work, and I would like to see it work in our community."

Although a public wood-chipping program has previously been discussed to provide an option for private landowners to clean up deadfall and such, Butts said there has not been enough interest expressed to proceed.

"I can't hold a chipping program if nobody's going to get with it. There's no sense in mobilizing the effort if people won't get involved."

Considering Slave Lake, Fort McMurray and now B.C., Butts said, "I can't believe people aren't taking it more seriously."

However, the chief said he would gladly assist any property owners who are seeking advice or guidance regarding proper fire smart procedures, and that he could be reached by calling the department at 403-638-4044, or alternatively on his official cellphone at 403-636-0585.

"I'm there 24-7 to help people and step-by-step get them on the right track. That's part of my job as chief, is to try and make our community safer."