BC Firefighters off to Oz to help fight fires!

Hi Folks,

Just saw a news clip on BC Global TV News about a security breach at YVR delaying flights ... they did special mention of a group of BC Firefighters hung up in the delay who are on their way to Australia to help our Aussie friends fight the bushfires there They're flying out tonight and will be there until in Feb some time.

Way to go BC Firefighters, and way to go Canada!

I just searched online to find any mention of them going over but could find nothing.



Karmen

Gogle just brought me this link to a firefighters forum that mentions the Canadians going to Australia

http://www.firehall.com/forum/showth...threadid=10194



Karmen

This from the Times Colonist, a mjor daily news paper in Victoria, BC.

B.C. forest firefighters touted as centre of export industry

Sandra McCulloch, With files from Jeff Bell
Times Colonist


Friday, January 05, 2007

A deployment of B.C. Forest Service specialists to Australia today could be the beginning of a hot new export business.

"There's no question in my mind we've become a centre of excellence," said Forests Minister Rich Coleman yesterday.

"There's no doubt that our guys are the best or among the best in the world at what they do. Last year we sent people down to Washington state when they were having difficulty with that fire south of the border.

"I think our guys showed them there are better ways to fight the fire and manage fires strategically."

Tim Ewart of Parksville is among 52 firefighting specialists flying out of Vancouver today for Australia to relieve some of the 4,000 exhausted personnel Down Under, where wildfires have scorched more than 800,000 hectares of forest in the states of Victoria and New South Wales.

The Australian government is picking up the costs of the deployment.

Ewart, 49, is thrilled to be heading south as part of B.C.'s largest deployment of forest service personnel. The group includes full-time staff such as Ewart, as well as seasonal workers who are normally laid off this time of year.

"It's just a real privilege to have B.C. chosen out of the world for our expertise in fire management," Ewart said in a telephone interview.

Normally, Ewart is a forest-protection officer at the Coast Fire Centre in Errington, a job he describes as "kind of like the fire chief for the middle part of Vancouver Island."

The deployment to Australia fits in with the B.C. Forest Service's vision of global excellence, said Ewart.

There's a benefit for B.C.'s fire crews in getting a winter tune-up, said Ewart. Also, the possibility of fighting fires in the Southern Hemisphere could keep seasonal staff on the payroll and increase their skills.

"With this opportunity, there are doors that could be open to have those (seasonal) folks employed year-round," said Ewart.

It also raises the possibility of bringing Australian fire crews to B.C. to help fight fires here, he added.

"I really hope that [more mutual aid] comes out of it. The challenge for us is to really do well down there and generate these kinds of discussions."

B.C. fire crews were stretched to the limit over the last few years. While forest fires threatened Kelowna in 2003, Ewart was overseeing firefighting operations in Barriere and Chase. He's familiar with the fatigue the Australians are suffering: "We absolutely understand what they're going through, for sure. We've had in the last eight years at least five of the worst fire seasons and they just seem to keep stacking up on each other."

Many in the B.C. contingent have multiple areas of expertise, Ewart said. He's one of three designated incident commanders, also known as fire bosses.

"If they needed someone to be an operations chief, or logistics chief, I'm certified to do that as well. That's the same as the other 52 people, they're certified to do a lot of other things."

The B.C. firefighters are expected to be on the job next week and to return home in mid-February.
Meanwhile, Coleman said that a report of passport problems keeping some B.C. fire specialists home is a non-issue.

Only one potential member of the mission was without a passport, he said, and others were able to renew their documents as needed.

Coleman said the province is looking at ways to ensure that such missions can avoid travel concerns that may come up with passports or other matters. Francine Charbonneau of Passport Canada said any difficulties in special situations can be dealt with "on a case-by-case basis.

"If there are urgent needs, there are always ways to get a passport much quicker."

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Way to go, Canada!

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Way to go, Canada!

And way to go Aussies for noticing the talents, being impressed with them, and inviting the Canadians to bring their expertise ...