Wildfire preparedness and firefighter appreciation

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Thursday July 22nd 2021

In Print | Online | therockymountaingoat.com

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS:

Introduction: Wildfire Safety Embers can be cast up to two kilometres ahead of a wildfire and ignite materials on or near your home. Once homes or adjacent materials begin burning, they can continue casting embers further into the community. The Goat has teamed up with our local governments to provide valuable tools to community members about how to prepare their home to make it “fire smart” and other ways to prepare in case of emergency.

to-door. The Regional District’s website www.rdffg.bc.ca is the primary source of communicating with residents in emergency situations. If Evacuation Alerts or Orders are in place, a banner across the homepage links directly to our most up to date information on the emergencies (copies of Alerts & Orders, maps of area, event updates, helpful links to getting prepared).

Emergency Alerts

Home insurance policies in British Columbia cover fire damage and losses.

Call your insurance representative to discuss your coverage or contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844227-5422. Disaster Financial Assistance is not available for losses due to wildfire, which is why it’s important to discuss coverage with an insurance company or representative. If you leave your home due to a mandatory evacuation order, most homeowner and tenant insurance policies will provide coverage for reasonable living expenses for a time.

To receive emergency alerts directly to your phone via app, text, email or call, sign up for the Village of Valemount’s Voyent Alert app (through your app store or the Voyent Alert website), the Regional District’s Emergency Notification Program by visiting rdffg.connectrocket. com, and the Goat’s Breaking News email list (email goatnewspaper@gmail. com with BREAKING NEWS LIST in the subject line). The Village of McBride will post breaking news to their website banner and for emergencies go door-

Basic bag list

Insurance Considerations

Fire Smarting trees A FireSmart yard can include trees.

We often choose to live surrounded by the natural environment and trees are a cherished part of our relationship with nature. By following the recommendations in this manual, you can have a lush, green yard that is also resistant to wildfire.

Which trees should you plant?

Deciduous (leafy) trees are resistant to wildfire and include poplar, birch, aspen, cottonwood, maple, alder, ash, and cherry.

Trees to avoid Coniferous trees, with cones and needles, are highly flammable and should not be within 10 metres of your home. These include: spruce, fir, pine, and cedar.

If these trees ignite within 10 metres of your home, the direct flames and

intense heat can cause damage or even ignite your home. Coniferous trees should be spaced 3m apart.

Maintaining trees A surface fire can climb up into trees quickly. Removing branches within two metres of the ground will help stop surface fires from moving into treetops.

You can prune dead branches at any time of year, but it is best to prune coniferous trees in the late winter when they are dormant.

Include debris clean-up in your spring and fall yard maintenance. Dry leaves, twigs and branches are flammable and should be removed from the yard and gutters. Older deciduous (leafy) trees can have rot and damage that makes them susceptible to fire. An arborist or forester can help you assess the condition of mature trees.

8

Thursday July 22nd 2021

In Print | Online | therockymountaingoat.com

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS:

Introduction: Wildfire Safety Embers can be cast up to two kilometres ahead of a wildfire and ignite materials on or near your home. Once homes or adjacent materials begin burning, they can continue casting embers further into the community. The Goat has teamed up with our local governments to provide valuable tools to community members about how to prepare their home to make it “fire smart” and other ways to prepare in case of emergency.

to-door. The Regional District’s website www.rdffg.bc.ca is the primary source of communicating with residents in emergency situations. If Evacuation Alerts or Orders are in place, a banner across the homepage links directly to our most up to date information on the emergencies (copies of Alerts & Orders, maps of area, event updates, helpful links to getting prepared).

Emergency Alerts

Home insurance policies in British Columbia cover fire damage and losses.

Call your insurance representative to discuss your coverage or contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844227-5422. Disaster Financial Assistance is not available for losses due to wildfire, which is why it’s important to discuss coverage with an insurance company or representative. If you leave your home due to a mandatory evacuation order, most homeowner and tenant insurance policies will provide coverage for reasonable living expenses for a time.

To receive emergency alerts directly to your phone via app, text, email or call, sign up for the Village of Valemount’s Voyent Alert app (through your app store or the Voyent Alert website), the Regional District’s Emergency Notification Program by visiting rdffg.connectrocket. com, and the Goat’s Breaking News email list (email goatnewspaper@gmail. com with BREAKING NEWS LIST in the subject line). The Village of McBride will post breaking news to their website banner and for emergencies go door-

Basic bag list

Insurance Considerations

Fire Smarting trees A FireSmart yard can include trees.

We often choose to live surrounded by the natural environment and trees are a cherished part of our relationship with nature. By following the recommendations in this manual, you can have a lush, green yard that is also resistant to wildfire.

Which trees should you plant?

Deciduous (leafy) trees are resistant to wildfire and include poplar, birch, aspen, cottonwood, maple, alder, ash, and cherry.

Trees to avoid Coniferous trees, with cones and needles, are highly flammable and should not be within 10 metres of your home. These include: spruce, fir, pine, and cedar.

If these trees ignite within 10 metres of your home, the direct flames and

intense heat can cause damage or even ignite your home. Coniferous trees should be spaced 3m apart.

Maintaining trees A surface fire can climb up into trees quickly. Removing branches within two metres of the ground will help stop surface fires from moving into treetops.

You can prune dead branches at any time of year, but it is best to prune coniferous trees in the late winter when they are dormant.

Include debris clean-up in your spring and fall yard maintenance. Dry leaves, twigs and branches are flammable and should be removed from the yard and gutters. Older deciduous (leafy) trees can have rot and damage that makes them susceptible to fire. An arborist or forester can help you assess the condition of mature trees.

Valemount | McBride | Dunster | Blue River

Thursday July 22nd 2021

How to be FIRE Smart Fire Smart Tips from bcfiresmartbc.ca •

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Start by removing branches, leaves, pine needles, and other combustible materials from your roof, gutters, balconies, doorways, windowsills, etc., paying particular attention to corners or other tight spots where debris tends to gather Clear all combustible plants (potted or hanging), leaves, weeds, etc. from within 10 metres of your home Remove all flammable furniture, toys, decorations, plants, etc. from your deck, applying the

• •

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•

•

same 10-metre standard or moving them inside the house or garage. If your deck has a crawlspace beneath it, clear combustibles from there, too Mow any grass within the same 10-metre distance, preferably to a length of 10 centimetres or less Create a 1.5-metre noncombustible zone around the entire structure by raking and/or sweeping down to mineral soil, rock, or concrete Any moveable propane tanks should be kept at least 10 metres from your home. For stationary models, be sure to remove any leaves or other combustible materials from around the tank Any motor vehicles (cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, campers etc.) should be parked inside the garage or at least 10 metres from the house If the property has a combustible fence attached to the home,

secure the gate in an open position and clear away any vegetation or other flammable material from both sides of the fence • Check all exterior vents to make sure they are properly screened and in good condition. Cover up any damaged or questionable vents with duct tape or metal tape • The 10-metre rule also applies to woodpiles, but since moving larger ones can take hours, you may want to save this step for last • Most of these measures also can be applied to sheds, detached garages, or other outbuildings, as well as places of business All of the above is part of a tried and tested process recommended by FireSmart BC. Firefighters know from experience that protective measures are often the difference that causes a blaze to spare some homes while destroying others nearby.

Emergencies can occur at any time!

Pack for your pets

HOW TO STAY IN THE KNOW

Be prepared by visiting the Village of Valemount’s Emergency Management website page

When there’s an emergency, the most up to date information will be posted on the Village of McBride website on the Emergency Alert Banner.

The first 72 hours following a disaster are when you will need to be the most self-sufficient: first responders will be busy with the incident, you may need to leave your home and the area quickly, and there will not be the time needed to gather the supplies and documents you require.

In the event of an emergency, information will be broadcast via a website banner that becomes active, Village of McBride facebook page, CBC radio. These would be primary systems for alerts and orders. For more time sensitive matters, such boil water notices or evacuation alerts, we are looking at different options to get the word out quickly for the future. That being said, at this time, we currently send staff door-to-door for more time-sensitive issues.

Take the time now to prepare! The information and links provided through this website page will assist you in planning and preparing for the personal safety of yourself, family members, pets and property.

valemount.ca/services/emergency-preparedness

Get notified right away during emergency and critical events that are happening in Valemount using the Voyent Alert Notification Service.

Choose how you want to stay informed. Receive notifications from The Village of Valemount via the Voyent Alert! mobile app, text, email or voice call. To ensure you can be reached during a crisis, we recommend registering for at least 2 of the channels.

To download the app, go to your phone’s app store.

To sign up for email, text or landline alerts, visit:

register.voyent-alert.com

We ask residents to familiarize themselves with our Evacuation plan, which is appendix “D” in our Emergency Management Plan. A link can be found here www.mcbride.ca/residents/safety This page is set up for emergency response plans to various events and has links to provincial resources, some videos to watch and links to the fire smart website. There is also a link to the Master of Disaster kids preparedness program.

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Thank you!

Thursday, August 23, 2018

THANK

To the fire fighters.

Thank you!

In Print | Online | therockymountaingoat.com

Junior firefighter program To the fire fighters. hooks new recruits

by Laura Keil

addition to our coffee and gift shop, TheInGathering Tree The Gathering Tree also offers:

More than just a coffeeshop

Thanks to our local firefighters!

- Massage and reflexology - Sound therapy - Proven electro medicine The Gathering - Nutritional counselling Tree will be closedand workshops - Creative visualization

Saturdays starting Did you that Dr. Oz endorses the use of colloidal silver for immune Sept 1st,know 2018.

boosting and its anti-aging properties? The Gathering Tree now sells colloidal silver machines at a savings of hundreds of dollars in comparison to buying it off the shelves.

Watch for our

REGULAR HOURS “Quit smoking one-day clinic” 8–5 Monday–Friday 11-3 Saturdays in January.

Kitchen closes at 3pm

The Gathering Tree Eatery & Gift Shop, 5th Ave. Valemount,

566-0154

Shooting down fires all over the zone.

Thanks Robson crew!

Thank you!

When you picture a high school grad’s summer job, what do you see?

Some see 12-hour days fighting wildfires on slopes high above our valley.

The little-known junior firefighting program has been operating for years, but this is the first year in decades that it’s run in the Robson Valley.

It’s lucky for the four boys ages 17-19 who graduated from Valemount Secondary in June who have been picked up by local wildfire crews: Niam Karas, Isaac Williams, Chris Widell and Jeremy Rogers.

Valemount-based BC Wildfire Assistant Chikara Hiroe helped set up the program this year. “I wish I had an opportunity like that when I was still in high school,” he said.

The training for these crew members is much the same as a regular crew members, but they don’t attend bootcamp (a physical test that occurs at the beginning of a firefighters career). Junior members complete coursework during the school year, which includes spending several weekends at the fire base.

The job comes a gruelling workload: crew members often work in the bush in 30 degree temperatures, 12-16 hours a day for 2 weeks straight.

Hiroe says it’s like a two-month-long paid interview.

“It’s a chance to build experience locally, recruit locally but also see if they’re going to be a good fit or not.”

At the end of the summer, should they like the job and apply to re-join, the junior member would attend bootcamp the following year, Hiroe says.

Qualities like good listening, ability to

armed forces help with fires

by Andru McCracken

www.yhl.ca

250-566-4401

take direction and get along with other crew members are important in the field.

Hiroe said mental fatigue is a risk and can lead to poor decision making. In proximity to fire, good decision making is crucial.

“You’re making decisions that affect other people all the time,” Hiroe says, noting the juniors are also given responsibility for gear - like trucks worth $80,000.

“We’re looking for maturity or the ability to mature rapidly.”

He says this year in particular has been demanding - the busiest one in the Robson Valley since he started 10 years ago. He said he’s been surprised by fire behaviour on several fires this year. For instance, a Rank 3 fire in an old-growth cedar forest.

“It’s a rapid shift from high school to a busy season like this,” he said. “We’ve had a fairly good success this year.”

“I think some of them are pretty tired but they’re still having fun.”

The juniors are restricted in some ways.

For instance, they are not allowed to work directly on fires above Rank 3 (intermittent candling). But for most of the day they are doing the same tasks as other firefighters - using hose and tools to “mop up” large fires, helping secure a fireguard and learning about fire and smoke behaviour.

The juniors usually are usually the “Delta,” the fourth member of the crews, which are normally just three people, though this year one junior was hired as a regular member due to a regular member’s injury.

Hiroe says he hopes to get applicants from the McBride Secondary School in future, even though the positions are based in Valemount.

A convoy of 13 army vehicles and 26 soldiers rolled into Valemount last week.

The soldiers were enroute to Vernon to help with fires in the area.

The soldiers were part of 1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry according to Captain Bonnie Wilken.

They have been deployed to BC as a part of the Land Task Force of Operation Lentus.

Wilken said the soldiers will stay until the province is satisfied things are under control.

“Our liaison officers work closely with Provincial authorities to determine what those criteria are and we are committed to assisting their efforts,” said Wilken.

Currently, approximately 100 soldiers from the Land Task Force are based in a fire camp in Merritt, BC. There is another group of soldiers running a headquarters/ support function out of the Vernon Cadet Camp, according to Wilken.

“That location is the ‘hub’ where we push soldiers out to different positions,” she said.

As of August 18, crews from the Merritt Fire Camp commenced mop-up activities at the Gottfriedson Mountain Fire and on Saturday, August 18th, approximately 35 Reserve Force members from 39 Canadian Brigade Group joined them there.

Wilken said Canadian Armed Force Members are not trained firefighters but they receive basic firefighting training.

“The training they receive prepares them to assist firefighters on a fire line that is under control or in the mop-up stage, or low in complexity and expected behavior,” she said.

The Land Task Force is employing a mix of support vehicles consisting of medium and heavy transportation trucks, ambulances, maintenance, and utility vehicles.

There are approximately 86 vehicles being used to support Land Task Force operations.

Valemount | McBride | Dunster | Blue River

Thursday, August 23, 2018

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YOU FIREFIGHTERS

(Above left) A member of Prince George’s Seneca Enterprises wildfire crew gazes at the charred landscape 55km down Kinbasket Lake’s East Canoe FSR. (Above right) A firefighter battles steep slopes near Valemount. / BLAKE BRENTON

To all the wildfire crews and those helping with the firefighting effort...

Thank You!

To the wildfire firefighters who protect us: thank you!

From all of us at the Rocky Mountain Goat

12

Thursday, August 23, 2018

In Print | Online | therockymountaingoat.com

THANK YOU F

Thank you for your hard work, for risking your lives and for keeping us safe and secure

1201 5th ave Valemount BC

Firefighters put themselves at risk to keep us safe . . . we are grateful!

No reprieve as province burns

by Laura Keil

Shirley Bond, MLA Prince George-Valemount 1350 5th Ave, Prince George, BC Ph: 250-612-4181

A huge thank you to all the firefighters who defend our communities.

Alaina Chapman

Registered Massage Therapist 250-566-1040

Thank you for protecting our province!

Thank you to our dedicated wildfire crews battling flames, smoke & heat!

Fires continue to rage across the province, stretching provincial resources, but there is some hopeful rain in the forecast.

Last week the BC government declared a provincial state of emergency and asked for federal help. Military troops and vehicles arrived in Valemount last week to assist with wildfire efforts. Firefighters from New Zealand and other provinces also arrived to help.

The Wildfire Service is keeping a close eye on the corridor between Smithers and Prince George, as major fires in the area continue to burn uncontrollably. Across BC, there are currently 28 Evacuation Orders affecting 1,530 properties, and 48 Evacuation Alerts affecting 11,777 properties, as a result of current wildfires.

Donations from individuals to the Red Cross to help people affected by recent wildfires will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the BC government up to a total of $20 million. The government says donating used items like clothing or furniture is thoughtful, but the cost of accepting, sorting, storing and dispersing usable items often exceeds their benefit.

Although temperatures have dropped to more seasonal levels, no significant rainfall has aided wildfire crews.

Smoke and air quality remains an issue in many parts of the province especially around the Prince George and Quesnel area.

Poor air quality can be especially harmful for children, older people and people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, the BC government says. A government

fact sheet says the best way to protect yourself from the effects of wildfire smoke is to reduce your exposure. The BC government advises residents affected by the smoke to stay indoors and keep the air clean (windows/doors closed, no smoking, no burning fireplaces/candles/incense, no vacuuming), reduce the amount of time spent outdoors, avoid vigorous outdoor activities, when in a vehicle, keep windows closed with air conditioning set to recirculate, visit places with controlled air supply, such as shopping malls, swimming pools, public libraries, etc. People with asthma or other chronic illness should ensure they have an adequate supply of inhalers/ medication and should activate their asthma or personal protection plans.

If you have been displaced by an evacuation, you can visit a pharmacy near you to access an emergency supply of medications you may need. Visit the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia website to learn more.

In Valemount, the air quality improved briefly on Monday revealing the mountain peaks before rocketing to more than 250ppm on Tuesday and once again shrouding the views.

Several major fires continue to burn near Valemount.

On Aug. 12th area restriction order was put in place for Crown Land in the vicinity of the Hugh Allen Creek wildfire 60km down Kinbasket Lake. The Hugh Allen fire was last estimated to have burned 10,000ha of forest and due to its size and location is not being actively fought and is monitor-only status.

A fire at 55km down the East Canoe road along Kinbasket is now estimated at 800ha. And a third major fire in the Dave Henry Drainage is also estimated at 700ha.

Valemount | McBride | Dunster | Blue River

Thursday, August 23, 2018

13

FIREFIGHTERS Thank you to all the wildfire crews for keeping our province safe!

From the Village of McBride Mayor, Council and Staff

In appreciation of the firefighters who risk their lives to protect us.

Come into the Caribou Grill Open 7 days/wk and have a beer on us 1002 5th Ave, Valemount

With the greatest appreciation and respect to the firefighters for keeping us safe. Hoping they too will stay safe.

Silvia & Bogdan at The Valemount Swiss Bakery

Opposite page clockwise: Seneca Enterprises crew members Blake Brenton, Hunter Bursey and Dailen Videgain said they were loving their time fighting fires in Valemount. Before this they had been deployed in Ontario; a firefighter takes in the flames; firefighters from Interior Tree Falling came to help last week; below: BC Wildfire Stats for this season compiled Aug 17th. That Goat was unable to obtain photos of local crews by presstime due to the busy season / LAURA KEIL & ANDRU MCCRACKEN & STOCK

More than a house is a home.

Thanks for fighting so hard for all of us who live here.

Centre City Realty Shelly Battensby, Realtor Cell: 250-566-1086

To our provincial wildfire firefighters and all those helping with the wildfire effort - thank you!

From the Mayor, Council & Village staff

Thank you to firefighters, who work the Thin Red Line, keeping our community safe