Nunavik firefighters get training to combat wildfires
Specialized instruction comes with specialized equipment
Firefighters from across Nunavik alongside SOPFEU representatives received training last month in Kuujjuaq to combat wildfires in their communities. (Photo provided by the Kativik Regional Government)
Firefighters from eight Nunavik communities gathered in Kuujjuaq in June to take part in a two-day wildfire training session.
“It is becoming more of a risk in the North,” said Mitch Vail, Kativik Regional Government’s civil security operations co-ordinator who organized the training.
“Last year, there were some significant fires,” he said.
“They never ended up threatening any communities, but it certainly was enough to make us take note.”
Firefighters from eight of Nunavik’s southernmost communities, which are the most vulnerable to wildfires, received kits that include water pumps, hoses, nozzles and “everything that is needed for a wildfire intervention,” Vail said.
Then SOPFEU, Quebec’s society that protects forests from fires, visited Kuujjuaq to train the firefighters on this new equipment.
Vail said the first day of training was a theory class and the second day included practical training that allowed participants to set up the kits and learn how to deploy them.
“The risk is there now,” said Vail.
“[This training] is about being prepared for what I say is inevitable.”
Kuujjuaq, Kuujjuaraapik, Kangiqsualujjuaq and Umiujaq are the communities most at risk since they have trees nearby.
The other communities have a risk of tundra fires, which start from brush. Vail said these types of fires can be as volatile and dangerous as forest fires.
The plan is for the remaining six northernmost communities to receive the same training next year.
“There was a sense of camaraderie at the training,” said Vail. “The firefighters took it seriously, they volunteered to come.”
He said an emphasis will be placed on offering various types of firefighter training in the coming months.
Usually, SOPFEU responds to wildfires in Nunavik but having local firefighters trained makes the response quicker and more efficient.
“They have manpower, they have air support, whatever is needed as far as we have the capabilities of fighting these fires,” said Vail.
Over the past 10 years, Quebec has experienced an average of 299 forest fires per year, according to the SOPFEU website.
In days past in Goose Bay, Labrador the Forestry Department hired seasonally young men to be on standby for fighting forest fires. We were on mop up operations usually putting out fires in the roots of trees after a fire had gone through an area. However on some occasions there were fronts which us ground crews had to run from to take refuge in wet bogs and ponds. Perhaps it is still ongoing those seasonal jobs, I’d say that the Safety aspect is too much and it is there to reenforce a hierarchy and obedience as much if not more than it is for safety (as it is in everything now-a-day).
I was a firefighter for 26 years. There is a reason for safety training and in fact a need for hierarchy to which you seemed to be in opposition. The first question asked if something goes sideways at a scene is ” who was the scene commander”. There can be only one source for all directions and use of resources. These may be passed to the crew by various, crew leaders with various titles perhaps being, captain, lieutenant, etc but all report to one central command. The reason is things go off the rails very quickly when orders or instructions come from too many places or someone acts independently at an active scene endangering themselves and other crew members. So if you have a problem with hierarchy don’t be a firefighter or member any other emergency response team. Rules and leaders are there to saves lives including the responding team. Give these people the respect they have earned and the appreciation they deserve. Taima.