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Tuesday, August 6th

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Volume XIX-Issue 1039 August 6, 2024

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Fire Departments Deployed To Jasper Wildfire: Q & A

Students, staff, and apparatus from Lakeland College’s Emergency Training School joined firefighting efforts in Jasper from August 24 through 29. Photo Lakeland College ETC

tion of the Town of Vermilion the week before a deployment period. Remember, as all of that Were the firefighters paid for their the Vermilion Fair and during the fair, we had is happening, dedicated firefighters remain in work? First reported the evening of Monday, July to evaluate our primary role as protecting the County, ready to respond to our own local Hughes: “Despite being labelled as ‘volun22, the wildfires threatening Alberta’s beloved the town and surrounding area. We decided emergencies as they come in.” teer firefighters,’ our people are paid to respond mountain town of Jasper took just two days to it was best to participate with the County of Krys: “I’d like to say all the members were to emergencies. When deployed to an incimerge and overtake the town, burning multi- Vermilion River who we have a fire agreement part of the response. Just because they dent, such as Jasper, they are paid hourly for ple structures the night of Wednesday, July with and provided 1 member to respond on didn’t actually go there, when neighboring fire their time as well as receive compensation 24. Swift evacuations of nearly 25,000 people, July 24, 2024 and we have 2 members waiting departments participate in assisting in inci- for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses including 5,000 residents, ensured there were to be deployed if required.” dents as this, the pressure increases on those such as meals and lodgings. This is paid no injuries or deaths associated with the inciLyle Lawrence, Lakeland College Emer- who stay behind. Of course our thoughts are for by the Province, or, if the deployment is dent. gency Training Center (ETC) Faculty with those that are there helping in whatever outside of Alberta, the requesting agency. It is Emergency responders from in and around Chair: “Our practice is to keep up to date with way they can. Because we are volunteer fire- cost neutral for the County, meaning sending Vermilion took up the call to serve the commu- activities related to Emergency Services in fighters, some of the members and family responders to help our neighbours does not nity. The County of Vermilion River, the Town Canada. We were paying particularly close members were involved due to their full-time affect our budget at home.” of Vermilion, and Lakeland College’s Emer- attention to the situation developing in and jobs. One member is an instructor at Lakeland Krys: “Same response as Hughes; gency Training Centre all sent firefighters to around Jasper in the days leading up to the College’s Emergency Training Centre and however, most volunteer fire fighters lose help in Jasper. Below, leaders of these agen- deployment. We knew the Province had put responded with the class. Another member is money when responding to calls. They have cies engage in a question-and-answer format, out a request for resources. We felt this would an ATCO Power employee and is deployed by full-time jobs or businesses that are left sharing their perspectives in their own words. be an excellent opportunity to meet our goal of ATCO to the area. A third member is a Rogers behind. Firefighters’ families are very underHow did you get the call to come serve? providing hands-on learning for our students, employee and is deployed to the area. Plus standing. A lot of family functions are put on Kirk Hughes, County of Vermilion River while helping the greater community so on the several of the fire department family members hold when fire calls are involved.” Fire Chief: “The County of Vermilion River morning of July 24 we called the PECC to offer were deployed because of their occupations.” Lawrence: “Lakeland College’s EmerFire Service is registered with the Alberta our resources. Twelve hours later, the PECC Lawrence: “On the evening of July 24, six gency Training Center is an emergency trainEmergency Management Agency (AEMA) called back to request us to supply apparatus, staff members and nine students deployed ing facility, only recently becoming involved in as an agency capable and willing to respond equipment, and responders.” with two fire engines, a water tender, an emergency response, so our situation is a lot to request for assistance from the Province, How many people from the agencies ambulance as well as three support vehicles. different than other service providers. All orgaand frankly, anywhere in Canada as evident were part of the response? On July 25, another 18 students and one staff nizations approved and requested to deploy from last year’s deployments to the NorthHughes: “That is a hard figure to ascertain. member brought another fire engine. This are eligible to be reimbursed for expenses west Territories. Generally, we get contacted Although the light shines brightly on those allowed us to operate our engines 24 hours incurred during the response. Our students from the Provincial Emergency Co-ordination responders that are on the ground in Jasper, a day, providing structural protection to the are in a unique position compared to career Centre (PECC) who request certain types of and rightly so, the behind-the-scenes work is townsite of Jasper and surrounding areas. On or volunteer firefighters, in that they actually resources, such as fire apparatus and crews, instrumental in ensuring a successful deploy- July 28 another staff member brought out a have paid to be part of the experience. In 2023 and when we could deploy them. From there, ment. Currently, the County has 4x Firefight- fifth apparatus. As mentioned, the number of we deployed to assist Parkland County, the we canvas our local fire districts to determine ers deployed, 2x Returned and have sent 2x people from our organization who supported reimbursement funds were used to provide interest from our volunteers to respond and Support personnel to the Townsite. The Town the response is far greater than the numbers an educational bursary to our students, so inform our elected officials. Once authorized responded with us, sending one firefighter to on the ground: from the Board Members who effectively they were “paid” for their time. I and ready to go, they are deemed ‘deployed’ serve on our County pumper from Paradise approved our request to respond, our safety anticipate we will again follow that model this to the incident.” Valley. We responded together as a Regional team who performed our risk assessment, to year. It is important to note that approximately Anton Krys, Town of Vermilion Fire Chief: Fire Service. Co-ordinating all that are our tech staff that helped prepare our equip- 80% of firefighters in Alberta are volunteers, “We are notified in the same manner as the employees at the County, District Fire Chiefs ment, it is difficult to place a true number on and I would estimate that ratio of firefighters County of Vermilion River. It was very difficult that are monitoring who is available to be sent how many were part of our response, but that deployed to Jasper to be the same; our fireto decide whether to deploy a crew or not. With in relief, which department can cover which is the strength of emergency services—we fighters on the ground are not there for the the dry weather being a factor here as well district if a large incident occurs at home, and don’t respond as one person, we respond as money.” and with the increase of activities and popula- so many little nuances that add up throughout a whole.” Continued on Page 2 Caylie Gnyra Reporter


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