Comox fire chief Gord Schreiner said he and his team are already gearing up for what could be a busy and long fire season.
With a 250-hectare wildfire already burning east of Neskonlith Lake near Chase, Schreiner explained an early start to the season is a relatively new trend.
“It’s been super, super dry and we’re already seeing fires in the province. Normally, the wildfire season begins in late July through August to September, but we saw it start in June last year.”
During the month of March, Comox set a new record, shattering a 50-year-old one for low precipitation.
Although conditions could change in May and June, Schreiner and the members of the Comox Fire Rescue are already preparing for the season with equipment and training.
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He said the skill set to battle an interface/wildfire is different than battling a structure fire. In the latter, crews are trained to break down doors and save people, whereas in a wildfire, he noted crews have to ensure they are using the correct personal protective equipment and firefighting equipment in their hands.
“We’re already starting training with small pumps and sprinkler systems,” he added.
While most fire departments have some wildfire equipment, Comox Fire Rescue has two Structure Protection Units (SPU) trailers. One is a Type 2 and the other is a Type 3.
Type 2 trailers carry six pumps, more than 100 sprinklers and thousands of feet of hose, he explained.
Type 3 trailers are the smallest and are generally used as a local resource only; both the Oyster River Volunteer Fire Rescue and the Cumberland Fire Department have Type 3 trailers.
In addition, Comox also has two rapid attack vehicles that carry water and hand tools for quick action of brush fires, along with a 1,000-gallon water trailer, which can be used as a water source in forested areas.
Schreiner said the department has about 50 members and nearly all will get trained in outdoor fires in some capacity, even the newer members, as they can play a role in controlling bush/outdoor fires.
“We need to have a real density of trained people, as (firefighters) could be deployed at any time.”
Currently, he has 30 members who are trained and could be utilized throughout the province and hopes to train another 10 more during a course in May.
With the dry weather, certain areas of the town can become hot spots for outdoor fires, such as the Northeast Woods. Although one option, if the weather throughout the summer becomes dry and hot, is to close the area, Schreiner said he would rather keep the area open to allow extra observers in the woods.
“I like people walking through because it provides early detection. If we ban people, it might reduce the potential for fires, but then you don’t have early detection, and fire becomes visible once it reaches the top of the tree canopy.”
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Effective April 3 at noon, the Hornby Island Fire Department will require residents to obtain a permit for any backyard burning.
The department will write permits Wednesdays and Saturdays. They note that residents should check the venting index and avoid burning on windy days. They also note that individuals who chose to burn should ensure they have tools such as shovels and water at hand to help manage the fire.
In Comox, urban backyard fires are prohibited, but in rural areas, burning is allowed until the end of April.
Schreiner warns those who are permitted to have fires should be “very, very careful,” never leave it unattended and keep water nearby.
For tips on reducing the potential of wildfires around your home, click here to view the FireSmart Homeowner’s Manual from the provincial government.
erin.haluschak@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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