'I do everything on the radio in my language'
Rene Camsell reflects on 30 years of firefighting
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, April 7, 2014
BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
Rene Camsell is a familiar voice in Behchoko. The acting fire chief is often heard on the local radio station, teaching residents about fire safety and ways they can prevent fires before they start.
"I've been talking on the radio regarding burning wood stoves and cleaning your chimney," he said. "I do everything on the radio in my language (of Tlicho)."
He also shares information about carbon monoxide and provides updates on local ice conditions.
Camsell said safety promotion is important to him.
"I like to keep my community safe," he said.
Camsell was a volunteer firefighter for about 25 years before taking on his current role of acting fire chief about six years ago, he said.
Now, he divides his time between that role and working as the community's acting lead foreman.
Camsell said he took firefighting training in Behchoko when he originally joined the department. Since then, he's taken a variety of first aid, CPR and other safety training courses to keep his skills up-to-date.
He said summer is an active season for Behchoko's volunteer firefighters. Frequent grass and forest fires mean firefighters are kept busy ensuring flames don't reach the community.
"The houses are pretty close to each other. It could jump from one house to the next house," he said.
Camsell said when forest fires happen, volunteers work to keep the fire at bay until fire management staff with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources arrive.
In addition to fighting fires, Behchoko's firefighters are also called during emergencies. Camsell said he and other volunteers are sometimes the first to respond to accidents on the highway between Behchoko and Fort Providence. He said he took training as an emergency responder for those types of situations.
"For that kind of thing you got to have a special course for that," he said.
Camsell said he is also working on a new project -developing Behchoko's own search and rescue team.
He said he and other residents are working on fundraising ideas to raise enough money to buy a boat and other equipment.
He said having a team ready in the community instead of waiting on search and rescue crews from elsewhere will help save precious time.
He said until then, he will continue to promote safety to help people prevent accidents before they occur.
