Fire Chiefs association says national body could help better coordinate wildfire response

“The G7 is happening right now. We’ve got all seven leaders of the seven countries in my province of Alberta. I know that apparently talks about wildfires are on the agenda, but quite frankly…where are the experts? Where are the fire chiefs that have local expert information? We’re not at those tables,” McMullen said.

The Buckland Volunteer Fire Dept. was one of many local agencies assisting with the wildfires. (Facebook)

So far, the ramped-up wildfire season in Saskatchewan has forced the government to utilize dozens of municipal and volunteer fire departments from across the province to assist in fighting wildfires that have encroached on communities. McMullen said the same thing happened in Alberta in 2023.

“What we’re seeing, 2023 being the best example of that, is more and more reliance on our structural firefighters to support our wildland firefighters,” said McMullen. “What we’re trying to do is create an organizing body to help assist with the structural and provincial wildland firefighter planning, making sure that our people and resources are sent across the country to the highest risk area with as much ease as possible.”

Administration at the Prince Albert Fire Department agrees with McMullen. Fire Chief Kris Olsen said there is a need to have a national body or federal advocacy group.

“It goes beyond that. It’s emergency management,” he said.

Members from the Lakeland and District Volunteer Fire Dept. travelled to Pelican Narrows. (Facebook)

Deputy Chief Alex Paul noted the United States has FEMA -which coordinates across federal agencies to help state, local, tribal, and territorial partners respond to wildfires nationwide through a variety of grant programs.

“We don’t really have an equivalent body in Canada that does that. It all falls to the local municipalities to fund purchases of trucks and halls and that sort of thing,” said Paul.

The government of Canada used to fund the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP) which was designed to enhance response capabilities through financial contributions to provinces and territories. Its goal was to create a reasonably uniform standard of emergency response across the country, but the federal government ended funding for it in 2013 despite resistance from local governments and organizations that relied on JEPP for training and equipment costs.

The Village of St. Louis is currently in the process of building a new fire hall, which was paid for entirely through local budgets. Fire Chief James Brake and his volunteer fire department have been helping to fight wildfires in La Ronge. While he noted the involvement of fire crews and equipment from American states like Utah, Oregon and Alaska, Brake believes it would be better for Canada to be prepared with its own resources.

“Maybe train our Canadian Forces to do wildland or something of that nature, so that we could be self-sufficient. I think this [wildfire season] is a wake-up call,” Brake said.

A team from the Garden River Volunteer Fire Dept. travelled to Weyakwin. (Facebook)

SPSA President and Fire Commissioner Marlo Pritchard said there is a Council of Canadian Fire Marshalls and Fire Commissioners, and the appointed heads of each province coordinate with fire associations.

“So, we have a mechanism to pull information and data. Can it be expanded and enhanced with some federal commitment? I mean, we work with Public Safety Canada, so of course, there’s always room for improvement, but there is already a conversation on between the Council of Fire marshalls and Fire Commissioners with the federal government and that will continue and again, as we see the situation like this year, we will probably have more conversations in the coming months,” Pritchard said.

Premier Scott Moe said Saskatchewan would be willing to discuss and be a part of a national fire fleet of air tankers and wildland firefighters, but he’s cautious about a national administration or set of standards.

“For a place like Toronto or Vancouver, it might be very different for what we would be looking for in a place like Creighton or the tri-cities in northern Saskatchewan. So, there always needs to be some flexibility in that space,” said Moe.

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW)

As for supports provided to municipal and volunteer firefighters, Moe referred to increased funding in the way of capital investments for fire halls, personal equipment, and increased tax benefits for volunteer firefighters, but he also acknowledged the province needs to continue having conversations.

“Can the provincial government play a larger role in ensuring those that are volunteers not only are receiving a tax benefit when they go to work and save buildings and people, but have the proper and appropriate personal protective equipment so that their families know that when they go that they are working with the latest and best equipment to keep their family members safe.”

Whether it comes in the return of a modernized national Joint Emergency Prepared Program or not, McMullen articulated there needs to be incentives for provinces, territories and local governments to secure an economy of effort and provide a solution to coordination issues. He said there needs to be a national reinvestment in fire and emergency preparedness and equipment.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social

by Nigel Maxwell

Fire Chiefs association says national body could help better coordinate wildfire response

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