First Nations' Emergency Services Society of British ... · Web viewJuniper Strategy FNESS FFM...
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SAFETY MESSAGE Campfire Safety Every year in BC campfires are left unattended sometimes with disastrous consequences as a result of improper fire construction and extinguishing. The steps to ensure your camp fire is looked after responsibly are minimal and can help prevent any unfavorable situations. Campfire responsibility starts before the campfire is even ignited by ensuring the weather conditions are favorable and there are no current fire bans in place in your local area. Once conditions are favorable for a campfire it is important to select an appropriate area. An appropriate area would be at least 25 feet away from the nearest structure or other flammable objects such as dry grasses, leaves and woody debris. Once an appropriate area away from other flammable objects is chosen it is best to dig a small hole in the ground and surround it with rocks to prevent the fire from creeping in the event of un favorable winds. In order to properly extinguish a fire one of the sides of the fire triangle must be broken. This can be accomplished by having water readily available to put on the fire and take away heat or by or sand to put on the fire to reduce the amount of available oxygen thus suffocating the fire. Using these two methods of extinguishing in combination with the removal of fuel from the fire will help ensure the fire is put out sufficiently. Before leaving the site is important to do a final check ensuring there is no residual heat of smoke coming from the fire pit before leaving the area.
Transcript of First Nations' Emergency Services Society of British ... · Web viewJuniper Strategy FNESS FFM...
SAFETY MESSAGE Campfire Safety
Every year in BC campfires are left unattended sometimes with disastrous consequences as a result of improper fire construction and extinguishing. The steps to ensure your camp fire is looked after responsibly are minimal and can help prevent any unfavorable situations. Campfire responsibility starts before the campfire is even ignited by ensuring the weather conditions are favorable and there are no current fire bans in place in your local area. Once conditions are favorable for a campfire it is important to select an appropriate
area. An appropriate area would be at least 25 feet away from the nearest structure or other flammable objects such as dry grasses, leaves and woody debris. Once an appropriate area away from other flammable objects is chosen it is best to dig a small hole in the ground and surround it with rocks to prevent the fire from creeping in the event of un favorable winds. In order to properly extinguish a fire one of the sides of the fire triangle must be broken. This can be accomplished by having water readily available to put on the fire and take away heat or
by or sand to put on the fire to reduce the amount of available oxygen thus suffocating the fire. Using these two methods of extinguishing in combination with the removal of fuel from the fire will help ensure the fire is put out sufficiently. Before leaving the site is important to do a final check ensuring there is no residual heat of smoke coming from the fire pit before leaving the area.
Community ProfileCanoe Creek:Canoe Creek Band restarted our volunteer fire department in October 2015 with great turnout. FNESS has been key role to assisting us with direction and training. Support offered through FNESS is key to keep our VFD going.SXFN leadership with our membership know the importance of our team and support our goals to protect our lands, homes and membership.FNESS has also supported our community through governance workshops, fire prevention workshops in our communities to help educate our members to prevent future disasters.
Okanagan Indian Band:Photos below from the Okanagan Indian Band fire smart summer student program, OKIB has hired on some summer students to assist with the following:
1. Receive education training in regards to fire smart; prevention, education and awareness, what is fire smart, to assist with community activities to reduce the wildfire threat and risk primarily for Elders homes in the community.2. Provide support to the Elders in the community to assist with activities to reduce the threat due to wildfires around homes, raking, piling, pruning slash debris that may pose a fire risk, (dry grass, pine needles, cones and burnable materials)
These activities support FireSmart wildfire prevention education, awareness to reduce threat and loss due to wildfires. OKIB has completed various on and off reserve fuel reduction projects, all this work goes towards assisting and reducing the threat due to wildfires. The activity towards fire smart will assist in this goal but can also lead towards becoming a fire smart recognized community through fire smart Canada community recognition program.
Photo: Canoe Creek Fire Department
FNESS – July 2016 Fire Services
During the summer, it’s often a time of rest and relaxation as people take time off work….rest and relaxation?? More like time off of work to do other work: fishing, canning, and freezing, activities for youth/children, sports. Etc.…Many communities are especially busy this time of year, which means there is little time set aside for workshops and meetings. FNESS understands that and we have been working with communities to set up dates to deliver our fire prevention workshops at an increased rate for the fall season and onward.
We have a couple new projects and partners we are working with during the planning stage for Fire Prevention Week, next year’s Expo event with our new partner The Fire Chief’s Association of BC, and we are currently working with All Nations’ Trust Company on a joint project to assist communities.
Fire Services Officer: Emerson had the opportunity to work with Kitsumkalum elected officials at the Annual Riverboat Days in Terrace BC. While in the community to deliver the Fire Protection Governance workshop, Emerson assisted Kitsumkalum volunteers at the BBQ pit where hundreds of people attended to feast on BBQ salmon. It was an event for the books, big band music playing in the background, networking with MP Nathan Cullen: Skeena-Bulkley Valley and Troy Sam who is a Councillor for Kitsumkalum. While working in community, we went over the Fire Incident Report document, met with the MTSA provider: Terrace FD and determined both parties are happy with the MTSA as they state it is working well. We look forward to working with Kitsumkalum and all other communities as we focus on fire prevention.
FNESS has received a copy of the Fire Safety Assessments that were completed last year for each first nation community visited by INAC. We have been going over the FSA’s in depth to record the recommendations and we approach the community with information we capture from the document at the Fire Protection Governance workshop to elected officials. It is our goal to see each community address the recommendations which place an emphasis on fire prevention. FNESS has a number of fire prevention initiatives that can greatly assist each first nation community become a safer community through fire prevention. Please feel free to contact us at the following number if you want more information about our programs: 1 888 822 3388 or email [email protected].
FNESS – July 2016 Forest Fuel Management
Administration/StaffingHarry Spahan RFT has been brought on to assist FNESS with the On-Reserve Fuel Reduction Project for 2016-17; on-reserve FireSmart Project and may assist with SWPI, if required.
Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI)
Applications Approved as of July 2016 (April 29th Intake)Stage SWPI Projects Received
Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP)
1 $ 8,000.00
Forest Fuel Prescriptions 0 $ .00Operational Fuel Treatments 1 Under review –
SWPI Working Group
Total: 8000
Completed SWPI Projects 2nd Quarter (July-September 2016) to date:SWPI July 2016 – Completed Projects
Stage SWPI Projects ReceivedCommunity Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP)
0 $ 0.00
Forest Fuel Prescriptions 2 $ 6,750.00
Operational Fuel Treatment 1 $ 38,718.00Pending additional Operational Fuel Treatment Completion Letter
Total: $45,468.00
SWPI Intake – New Application Process for October 7, 2016 Intake
New Application Submission Process for First Nations Communities - Next Intake will be Friday October 7, 2016
Photo from left to right: Brent Langlois, Jeff Eustache, Harry Spahan, Shane Wardrobe & Brenden Mercer
Please note: As of July 6, 2016, all applications and support materials from First Nations Communities should be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities at [email protected]
Community Wildfire Protection Plans & UpdatesPlease note: As of July 6, 2016, applications for Community Wildfire Protection Plans and updates are not being accepted. A revised CWPP Program will be launched later this year and applications to this program stream will resume at that time.
Wildland Fire Canada 2016 Conference –Building Resilience
The Wildland Fire Canada 2016 Conference – Building Resilience will be held in Kelowna, BC October 24-28. Registration is required. For more details and to register, please go to http://www.wildlandfire2016.ca or call 1-250-387-5965
Landscape Level Fuel Management
First Nations Emergency Services, Forest Fuels Management Department continues to work with BC Wildfire Service on two major project initiatives to support the development and implementation of Landscape Fire Management Plans – First Nations Data Assembly Project; Support Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District; and Caribou Landscape Fire Management Plans.
Juniper StrategyFNESS FFM Department and staff from the British Columbia Wildfire Service are developing a guidelines document for best practices regarding Juniper use and management strategy. Juniper is an important plant species by First Nations for cultural use. It is also a highly flammable plant that needs to be
managed to assist in reducing the wildfire threat and balancing cultural use and values. This second draft is currently being reviewed and updated by Ministry of Forest, Lands & Natural Resource Operations.
National FireSmart Canada, Community Recognition ProgramCommunication and planning is underway to assist First Nations and local governments to engage in the FireSmart recognition program. The goal of progressing the First Nations, and local government into the recognition program is the objective for this fiscal year.
We are actively engaged with First Nations and other local governments and Regional Districts, to support them receive the community recognition status.
New FireSmart Canada Community recognition communities: Gallagher Canyon – July 11, 2016A community fire smart community recognition was presented to the Nazko First Nation on Wednesday July 13, 2016 by Jeff Eustache RFT and Shane Wardrobe FFM Liaison
As FNESS is Provincial Territorial FireSmart Canada PIP representative, requests are being made to support local government and regional district FireSmart initiatives, communicate with respective fire zones and centers are occurring.
Request by Deans Park Community Association – North Saanich for a Fire Smart presentation in coordination with Coastal Fire Center, DPCA is seeking approval from membership and then will work on organization with us.
2016-17 Emergency Management Preparedness Funding - On Reserve Fuel Treatment Initiative
A proposal was submitted to INAC for the 2016-17 fiscal years, to conduct forest fuel prescription review and operational fuel treatment projects for another 25 First Nations communities. We have received approval for $2, 015,131.13 million. Approval was granted for full project July 21, 2016 we have the funding to implement the 25 communities fuel treatments for on – reserve. Please check out our website at http://fness.bc.ca/aboriginal-affairs-northern-development-canada-aandc-on-reserve-forest-fuel-reduction-treatments-project/ for latest updates.
Forest Enhancement Program (FEP)
FNESS met with FEP Executive on July 19th and reviewed FNESS programs and discussed options for supporting FEP implantation. FNESS to develop project plans for FEP August 19th intake.
ThanksJeff Eustache RFT, ManagerFirst Nations Emergency Services
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