A crew with Invermere Fire Rescue (IFR) was dispatched to help the BC Wildfire Service with structural protection this week.
Four members from IFR and one from the Fairmont Fire Department were sent to the Parson area and have since returned.
“We got there on Wednesday morning and the Structural Protection Specialist asked us to take all of the equipment down because they were looking at removing the evacuation order right away,” said IRF Captain Erik McLaughlin.
Fire Chief Jason Roe said strong mutual aid between fire departments is vital for wildfire protection.
“It’s important for us to work together and build capacity and resources to help protect our own community and in the event a neighbouring community needs our help,” said Roe.
IFR crews strictly focus on protecting buildings and infrastructure when they help out the BC Wildfire Service.
“It may be in advance of the fire with our structural protection unit, setting up our sprinkler systems and moving flammable things away from a building,” explained Roe.
“If we deploy with an engine, we would be putting out spot fires or structure fires if embers were landing in a community or property. No matter how we deploy, we’re usually right up close with a community.”
The IFR and BC Wildfire Service have a history of working together to combat fires around the province.
“We’ve done deployments with them in different capacities over the last three years, whether it’s with an engine or like this time with our sprinkler protection unit,” said Roe.
“We could be asked to go anywhere, wherever the situation is the worst. We have been to Kelowna and Logan Lake in the Okanagan a few times. We’ll go pretty much anywhere they need us as long as our community is protected.”
Something going on in your part of the Kootenays you think people should know about? Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
