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Firefighters prepare for dry summer
Territorial firefighters get ready for a season of heat with FireSmarting

April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 12, 2016

DEH CHO
Territorial firefighters in the South Slave and Deh Cho are in the midst of training for another year of wildfires.

NNSL photo/graphic

Loyal Letcher, regional forests manager for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, left, and forest fire technician Michael Tsetso ran a FireSmart booth outside the Northern Store in Fort Simpson on May 7. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Richard Olsen, manager of fire operations for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said crews in Fort Providence and the Deh Cho were expected to start refresher training this week. In Fort Simpson, that included fitness testing at the recreation centre on May 9.

More than 20 firefighters showed up for that testing, which included 31 laps up and down a ramp while carrying weight - 25 of those laps were done wearing a 54-pound pack. The test also required two laps dragging a simulation of a hose.

A re-test is expected to take place in two weeks for firefighters who could not make the fitness testing or whose scores were below the acceptable level.

"We expect our full amount of fire crews will be on staff by just after the long weekend in May," Olsen said during the season's first fire briefing May 5.

Loyal Letcher, regional forests manager for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said on May 7 that aside from fitness testing and training, the department is planning to run public consultation sessions in each community in order to go over community protection plans.

Olsen said despite a fairly wet fall and fair amounts of snow cover, spring conditions from Yellowknife down to Fort Liard are relatively dry.

Coupled with a relatively warm winter and the fact Fort Liard saw the hottest start to May in recorded history - according to data dating back to 1973 provided by Environment Canada's weather monitoring site - Olsen said Fort Liard is a point of note for the department. Temperatures in Fort Liard have since cooled off somewhat, with highs of 19 and 22 C forecast for May 12 and 13, respectively.

"We have resources available (in Fort Liard) and we can always pick up temporary people if people aren't on staff this time of year," he said. "We're following through with our planned process for bringing our fellows on here shortly, within the next week ... and making sure they're ready to respond to wildfire."

He added while the department anticipates slightly higher levels of precipitation than in 2015, temperatures are expected to remain warm going into June.

One consideration for the department is the presence of more people out on the land. People in Fort Providence and Deh Cho communities have been making the most of the spring duck hunt.

"This time of year, we tend to see more and more people go out on the land and they'll be lighting fires for cooking and keeping warm, considering the evenings are still cool," Olsen said.

"We're asking people to consider the locations where they light fires, ensure they can control any spread and completely extinguish the fires before they leave."

Focus on fire prevention

Going hand-in-hand with the fire season is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' FireSmart initiative.

"Communities have been invited to participate as much as possible through our prevention program as a way for people to recognize that community protection is a combined response, gain info and mitigate risks to their communities from fire," Olsen said.

May 7 was National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Letcher and forest fire technician Michael Tsetso spent the afternoon at the Northern Store in Fort Simpson, where they ran a booth to promote awareness of the FireSmart program.

"We're getting the message out for homeowners," said Letcher, who added there has been more interest in the program since wildfires burned parts of Fort McMurray.

"It's tragic but it gets people more aware," he added.

FireSmart involves community members pruning a 10-metre swath around their buildings and remove any trees and debris that could help a fire to spread rapidly.

A booklet from the department includes a home and site hazard assessment, which Letcher said the department can help homeowners complete if need be.

"If people want assistance, give us a call," he said.

In addition, Letcher added, the department hopes to start FireSmart committees in each community.

The wildland fire season for the Northwest Territories officially began May 1, and runs until Sept. 30. During that time, residents are being encouraged to respect fire bans and the need for permits in order to burn combustible material.

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