It's been odd watching the fire season unfold from a distance. I've enjoyed seeing my former job in the news and hearing some of the political discussion around how to fight forest fires.
I wanted to comment about what I've read. Maybe I'm being sentimental, or gunning to be King of the Trolls, but here are some thoughts on the fire situation in B.C.
"Bring Back The Mars"
... said people who like action movies but not statistics.
This was well covered in the Huffington Post the other day, and what I'll say here is pretty obvious by now: Getting rid of the Martin Mars wasn't a terrible mistake and bringing it back isn't the solution. That's not to say it's completely useless, it can still put water on fire. But it's inefficient compared to other aircraft under contract with the B.C. government.
Bringing In Help
Here's something not well understood by people outside of firefighting: When the government calls in crews from Ontario, or the military, or any other number of resources, it's not necessarily the godsend the media makes it out to be. I've worked with crews from around the world and have found the best help comes from the U.S., Australia and Alberta. Any crews brought in from east of Alberta aren't quite the same.
It's not that they're bad at their job in their home province, it's just a different job in places like Saskatchewan and Quebec. The fitness standards are lower and, unless you're working north of Prince George, the forests in B.C. are nothing like what the out-of-province crews are used to.
I could compare the eastern help we get to the Martin Mars -- they are bodies that will ultimately spray water at fire, but they're not the most efficient machines.
The Program Isn't Too Small
There are 30 unit crews in B.C. That's 30 crews with 20 firefighters on each crew.
In terms of numbers, that's roughly the same as the active roster of every NHL team dedicated solely to forest firefighting.
This number doesn't include three-person Initial Attack crews, of which there are about 100, or any of the management overseeing all these ground-pounders. In all, there are about 1200 people in the wildfire management branch.
Considering there were three government-employed unit crews in 1988 and 25 when I started in 2006, 30 seems like a lot.
On slow years we have too many and on busy years we could never have enough. It's a Goldilocks situation and I think the wildfire branch is still trying to figure it out. I believe it would work best if we had closer to 20 unit crews in BC and could fly in more qualified help when we need it. It would be great if firefighters across the country were held to the same standard of fitness and certifications for falling trees, working around aircraft etc.
Anyway, this is the height of armchair philosophy. (I'm writing this from my kitchen table in Halifax.) But in my biased view, the Wildfire Management Branch is slightly overstaffed.
Tree Falling Danger
It's terrible a faller was killed on the Sechelt Mine fire this year. And I'm sad to say it's not too surprising. But it's not because of poor practice or a lack of standards. The contract fallers the Ministry brings in are smart, seasoned fallers. The Ministry's falling program is getting stronger too and their plan is to have the program recognized across all industries in the near future.
Falling has always been one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and falling burning or burnt trees only heightens the danger. In my time on a fire crew there were more than a few close calls. With so many firefighters out in dangerous, recently burnt forests every year - many of them inexperienced - something was bound to happen. The job is inherently dangerous and luck isn't always on your side.
On The Crew
In 2009 - the last season with a province-wide fire bust like the one B.C. just experienced - I remember pulling up to a fire burning out of control on a mountainside near Sun Peaks ski resort. The only resources available were some anxious loggers and two Kiwi firefighters fresh off the plane from New Zealand. That season was one long, exhausting adrenaline rush. For fire crews, a lot of experience is gained, you can learn more in one busy season than you would in 10 slow ones.
It also feels good to be doing the job you signed up for rather than plugging away at the more monotonous work assigned to us between fires. A funny thing happens on these seasons as well. Crews get antsy when they're not working where it's hottest. For every crew assigned to battle an active fire burning near houses, there's another crew banished to patrol some hinterland blaze that went out long ago but needs to be monitored in case anything weird happens.
In 2009, as soon as what we were working on calmed down, we could literally look across the valley at the next target, but would be stuck where we were for several more days.
In summary, I miss it, especially "it" as portrayed on the news and especially seasons like this one. Hi to my friends still there, you guys are the best.