Wildfire Deployment – 2018

Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: September 11, 2018 FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services MEETING: September 18, 2018

Wildfire Deployment – 2018

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated September 11, 2018 from the Director of Protective Services titled “Wildfire Deployment - 2018” be received for information.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To update the Committee on the 2018 BC Wildfire deployment

DISCUSSION:

The 2018 wildfire season kicked off in late June. Several large wildfires were reported and actioned by BC Wildfire Service during the early summer months.

The criteria for municipal deployments rely on several factors. Although a wildfire is burning and being actioned by the BC Wildfire Service, this does not necessarily require engagement by municipal departments. The key factor surrounding a call to outside departments is whether or not a fire threatens structures or populated areas.

When a wildfire is reported to the Province, the BC Wildfire Information Branch lists the fire on their web page as either an active wildfire or a fire of note. Fires of note are specific because of size or involve buildings.

BC Wildfire Service is responsible for managing wildfire operations and structural sprinkler protection. Municipal fire departments and apparatus are responsible for protecting and suppressing building fires as a result of wildfire, these units are managed by the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) and their Incident Management Team (ICT). Each spring, the OFC solicits participation in the upcoming fire season, if required. A detailed list of equipment that is anticipated is inventoried along with trained personnel. Each year View Royal submits availability to the Province in the form of an Engine company and crew. The View Royal Engine Company consists of View Royal’s 1992 spare engine and uses both career members and volunteers to staff the truck. Generally deployments require a 7 or 14 day commitment and require a mandatory 2 day rest period between deployments.

Under the Provincial agreement for re-imbursement, communities are compensated for both their apparatus as well as personnel. It has been agreed that no community should be out of pocket for deploying and assisting another community in need.

The most important consideration of a deployment is View Royal’s ability to manage emergencies in our own community. The decision to deploy is carefully planned to ensure adequate staff and resources are available. This includes meetings with the Chiefs of neighbouring jurisdictions in an effort to ensure we do not deplete too many resources from the Westshore.

All available apparatus and staff are compiled and placed in ready at the Provincial Wildfire Command Center (PWCC) in Kamloops for deployments.

Apparatus is not simply sent because a fire breaks out in the Province. Each local jurisdiction is responsible for protecting their own community. In the event a fire overwhelms local resources, the Fire Chief must engage and exhaust mutual aid partners. In the event the fire is still beyond control, they can request provincial assistance by declaring a local state of emergency and requesting apparatus and staff from outside their jurisdiction. These requests funnel through their respective Emergency Operations Centers, up to the Provincial EOC in Victoria for approval and finally to Kamloops for deployment.

Included in the deployment roster are structural protection experts that form part of the OFC Incident Command Team, ICT. Presently there are 20 Chief level officers from all corners of the Province on the team. These members are deployed ahead of apparatus to connect with the local EOC, Fire Chief, BC Wildfire staff and local government to establish a command structure and to receive and manage incoming apparatus. The intent of the ICT is to complement the local authority, but not take over the event.

Similar to the 2017 season, View Royal was called to send apparatus and firefighters to the north of the Province to assist in the protection of buildings threatened by fire. Engine 38 was deployed to Vanderhoof to stage, Smithers Landing as part of the Babine Fire Complex and Fraser Lake, also part of the Babine Fire Complex. Although the deployment lasted just 2 weeks, View Royal was part of a larger contingent of trucks protecting the communities of Fraser Lake and Fort Saint James.

As a member of the Provincial ICT group, I was called on August 4 to co-manage the Babine Fire Complex with the Fire Chief from Sidney, and BC Wildfire Service. This Complex was initially comprised of 7 fires, most in early stages and not actioned. During the initial response, and because of the dynamics of the fire season, the deployments changed by the hour. These changes resulted in my relocation north to the Smithers, Torkelsen Lake, Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek fires. The fires in the Babine Complex quickly escalated and required another re-deployment of resources and I was moved to Verdun Mountain as the Structural Branch Coordinator for protection of the Takysie Lake and surrounding communities. This fire, in its early stages of my arrival was just over 4000ha, however at the end of deployment in September it grew to nearly 100,000ha.

During the escalation of the fire we managed 26 engine and tanker companies, worked with multiple helicopter resources and air ships, BC Wildfire Unit crews, Australian and New Zealand command staff, 40 Mexican firefighters and approximately 100 municipal firefighters.

This year View Royal deployed 10 members and 1 Engine. I was deployed as part of the OFC Command Team and Firefighter Pitre was deployed as part of the OFC Task Force Leader Team.

A formal debrief is scheduled for October 1-3 in Chilliwack to discuss challenges and successes of the season.

SUBMITTED BY: Paul Hurst, Fire Chief/Director of Protective Services

REVIEWED BY: for Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer