By Cheryl Jahn

Wildfire training already underway

Dec 5, 2024 | 4:09 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The BC Wildfire Service, three local governments and Emergency Management BC spent the day training for wildfire at the Regional District of Fraser Fort George’s Emergency Operations Centre on Quinn Street. They are prepping emergency responders for a mock fire south of Salmon Valley, which threatens the Lheidli T’enneh.

“We came up with an idea to have a mock fire scenario that could potentially impact multiple jurisdictions and give them an opportunity to see how that would roll out, activate their emergency operations centre, go through the motions, go through the paces, because the more we can practice our response, the more likely it is that things will go more smoothly in the event of an actual emergency,” explains Andrea Rainey with the BC Wildfire Service.

Because the mock fire or trio of fires are in Salmon Valley, it falls within the boundaries of the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.

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“It’s never too early,” explains Chris Calder, Director of the Emergency Operations Centre. “We’ve really utilized that off-season time in order to do these these joint events.”

And fighting wildfire takes the coordination of all levels of government.

“So with a scenario like this, our fire is pretty near the city of Prince George. And so we have a concern for public safety,” explains Rainey. “And we’re going to be recommending evacuation orders and alerts associated with this fire. So what we do is we will contact the Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, who will determine the stakeholders. Who needs to know? Who do we need to call?” Who do need to get out the way?”

And while it is only December, no one can be too prepared for whatever Mother Nature sends our way.

“There are some local governments that don’t actually get an opportunity to do this very often. So we’ve been fairly fortunate in the city of Prince George that we haven’t had to deal with a wildfire emergency.”

And offering these opportunities well before they’re needed is critical to tackling the real thing.