The Chinook Emergency Response Society (CERS) hosted a Wildfire Preparedness Day on May 3. Residents came by to pick up the latest tips and information about protecting homes and communities.
鈥淭here have been some fires already this season in Area E,鈥� said Sharon Vare, president of the group made up of residents across the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako鈥檚 southernmost district. It is an area used to wildfires from small grass escapements to catastrophic mega-complexes. The CERS volunteers banded together after the enormous blazes of 2018 in order to help their neighbours and communities with expertise and resources at a grassroots level.
About 100 people attended at the Francois Lake Community Hall.
On displays tended by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako鈥檚 Emergency Response department, TC Energy, the Stellat鈥檈n First Nation鈥檚 FireSmart department, the BC Wildfire Service, the conservation officer service, the RCMP, Southside Volunteer Fire Department, and others. Refreshments were provided by the 4-H club.
Outside, BC Wildfire Service led demonstrations of their trucks carrying firefighting tools and a tank of water, for rapid action.
Also on display was a CERS custom firefighting trailer. Each one is outfitted with gear to quickly mount a grassroots firefighting response should a fire spring up across the Area E region.
鈥淭hose trailers are used a lot, depending on the year. Some of them get pretty banged up, but Byron Klassen and David Peters spend a lot of time and effort making sure they are in great shape for the start of each new fire season,鈥� said Leona Peden, one of the CERS volunteers who led the event鈥檚 organization. 鈥淥ther communities are looking to CERS to see how they can set up something like this, too.鈥�
Another of the CERS event volunteeers, Sheila Olsen, added that the FireSmart organization was a big supporter in their efforts to inform the public.
鈥淭he FireSmart organization offers a really helpful grant, $500, to put on events like this,鈥� she said. 鈥淔ireSmart is really good at helping with efforts like this, and with providing incredible information available to anyone about how to do things yourself to prevent wildfire and reduce risks on your own property.鈥�
TC Energy was on hand because that company saw the health and safety benefits of what CERS was leading in Area E.
鈥淲e were pleased to participate in the Wildfire Preparedness Day event,鈥� said Tanner Moulton, community relations advisor for TC Energy, who attended on May 3. 鈥淚t was impressive seeing how engaged the local community was, and it is proactive events like these that help our communities be more prepared. There are steps that each of us can take to mitigate the risk of wildfire and protect our families, homes and properties.鈥�
One of the highlights of the CERS year already was a new trailer, because of a generous contribution from TC Energy to expand that service. The more trailers, the easier the public鈥檚 access to tools closer to home, should a fire occur. The fleet now stands at nine, stationed strategically around Area E like Tchesinkut Lake, Colleymount, Noralee, and across the Southside.
鈥淭he Chinook Emergency Response Society approached us in late 2024 with a community investment request to purchase and equip a brand-new wildfire response trailer for the Southside community near 亚洲天堂 Lake,鈥� Moulton said. 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 take us long to decide to fully fund this need as we realized the value that this will bring in protecting the community, now and into the future.鈥�
Vare said collaborating and joining forces with resources is exactly how CERS does its community-level work.
鈥淲ildfire Preparedness Day is not only focused on educating residents, it is a time for fostering positive relationships between residents and government agencies,鈥� said Vare. 鈥淭hese relationships, CERS strongly believes, are essential to achieve a more positive outcome in the event of any type of emergency.鈥�
Anyone who sees the signs of fire should call 911, or the wildfire line at 1-800-663-5555 (or *5555 on your cell phone).
