Volunteer fire departments needing new equipment

Page 7

While the skills of firefighters at volunteer fire departments on reserves has improved in the past 20 years, the vice-president of First Nations' Emergency Services remains concerned about how the lack of funding is hampering fire protection.

Richard Norman Brooks, who as chief of the Kitsumkalum Volunteer Fire Department hosted the provincial firefighters challenge on May 31, has noticed a significant improvement in how individuals and crews react to a call since annual competitions and workshops started in the early 1980s. However, Brooks stated fire halls on reserves lack equipment.

"We're operating under the same funding system from INAC (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) as two decades ago, even though costs have tripled in obtaining better apparatus," Brooks said.

At $60 a home, Kitsumkalum (population 300) receives about $6,000 for its approximate 100 homes, another $8,000 for truck repairs and a few thousand based on $17.20 per square foot of the fire hall. After paying for the building's electricity and maintenance, there isn't a lot left over to purchase updated equipment.

Fire prevention and firefighting on reserves is more problematic than elsewhere. Houses are more susceptible to blazes as some families do not have the resources to replace or repair safety hazards. Also, Brooks said modern appliances that are too powerful for the home's panel box can cause an electrical short.

He also said Kitsumkalum is under a particular threat because of its gas station and propane outlet. Coupled with bigger buildings and an aging pumper, Brooks said his, and other reserves, have limited ability to fight fires.

"Insurance underwriters' requirements state we have to introduce new breathing apparatus and safety concerns. If we don't have the ongoing training, we can see the insurance premiums going up for each home on reserve," he said.

Kitsumkalum has a crew of 16 volunteers, but the availability of the men fluctuates depending on who is working off-reserve. By comparison, nearby Terrace has a crew of 10 paid staff and about 40 volunteers for an area servicing 10,000 residents. There's an agreement between Kitsumkalum and the city should the need arise, but it isn't unusual for city crews to present a bill for services rendered.

"To try and motivate our people in carrying out that responsibility, that's the biggest challenge, because we have such a turnover with local politics," lamented Brooks.

A recent recruit to Kitsumkalum's team is Arlene Roberts, who's been a volunteer for less than a year. While rookies are not allowed to fight fires until they've secured enough supervised practice time, there still are sufficient roles for newcomers when the call comes.

Roberts said that after the initial call, one of her duties is to man the phones and contact the appropriate parties, such as the gas department or neighbouring municipal fire departments. It is also be her duty to log the time, as each minute needs to be accounted for.

When it comes to firefighting, there are no differences regarding gender. Roberts is treated the same as everyone else and there's a respect shared by all towards being a member of a volunteer fire department.

"Something that's impressed upon us by the chief (Brooks) is that we can't be dainty flowers as lives are counted on us," Roberts said. "We're all equal across the board because firefighting is in our hearts."

Brooks noted a significant decrease in fire-related deaths since Native volunteer fire departments started. He said an average 30 casualties per year across British Columbia in the 1970s is now below a dozen; however, reserves have a higher proportional death rate than the cities he mentioned.