Deployed to help with one of the many wildfires burning in the BC Interior, two Maple Ridge firefighters had to go above and beyond even before they arrived at their destination.
Cptn. Steve Franklin, and firefighter Noah Redfern had their minds on what they would be facing with the Big Bar Complex fire, southwest of 100 Mile House – multiple fires that the BC Wildfire Service has combined together in name – when they stumbled across another blaze as they passed through Cache Creek Tuesday morning, July 21.
In an area to the side of the road, flames were coming from underneath a parked semi trailer.
Much more in keeping with their skill set, they were quickly able to extinguish the trailer fire, and set off on their way again towards the wildfires, including the Fiftynine Creek wildfire, first discovered on July 17, which, alone, is burning out of control at 10,277 hectares.
The pair were initially a part of a crew of four previously deployed to the Signal Hill wildfire by Pemberton.
Last Friday, July 17, Franklin and Redfern, along with Maple Ridge firefighters Bruce Wong, and Tavis Armour, quickly packed a Type 1 engine, and headed off to help with structural protection support in the region.
However, they were sent home within 24 hours of their deployment, after fire conditions in that area improved and the fire was held at 105.5 hectares.
That’s when Maple Ridge fire chief Dave Samson received another call for aid, this time from the BC Wildfire Service for the Big Bar Complex wildfire.
For this deployment the firefighters took a Type 1 tactical tender – a big water tanker – explained Samson, which he determined they could send without impacting the level of service to the Maple Ridge community.
As with the Signal Hill fire, the deployment starts as a 14-day commitment that can be reduced by the BC Wildfire Service.
“And, what we will determine based on how the fire is going, whether we will do a crew swap or not. We’re thankful for two people who were willing to deploy up there,” said Samson.
With wildfires burning throughout the province again this summer, and the potential risks of such blazes hitting this heavily forested community, Samson explained how the Maple Ridge fire department has pivoted in recent years. They are training firefighters to be able to fight more wildfire-type interface fires that can occur in urban and rural areas.
“All of our staff is well prepared, and we’ve really adapted and pivoted our techniques to what’s happening here in the western part of the world – well, everywhere, to be honest with you,” he said.
The department, Samson noted, regularly attends wildfire emergency summits to stay on top of the latest trends in wildfire fighting, to make sure they are ready to protect the community.
Samson added that current conditions for the community are hot and dry and he wants residents to follow prohibitions that are currently in place for category 1 fires in Maple Ridge.
He noted they will have a new unit arriving, a off-road Type 3 engine, a fire truck designed for tackling wildfires, with a smaller engine, which means it is more mobile and can get into smaller places.
They have also hired a fire safe coordinator who will be starting at the department next month.