REGINA – Saskatchewan’s fire commissioner says his department has found so-called “freelancers” trying to fight fires on their own.
If you want to help, Duane McKay says get some coaching first.
“This is dangerous work and it underlines the need to ensure people are fully trained,” McKay told reporters in a daily conference call Tuesday.
Even certified firefighters are getting a refresher on what awaits them in the north.
Volunteer departments in Pilot Butte and Balgonie sent seven of their own to take on the kind of fires their bi-annual fire schools may not have covered.
“For what they’re up in right now, we normally don’t get that type of training,” said Pilot Butte Fire Chief Kevin Dell.
More intense flames, coupled with dry conditions he calls a “tinder box” and a larger area is more than even the well-instructed have likely dealt with before.
The notion of rogue attempts to battle the fires without any training at all is one Dell would never support.
“If something goes wrong, now you’re going to be looking for several people to come and help you out,” he said.
“You’re putting more people at risk.”
Soldier safe after six-hour search
For a Canadian soldier tasked with helping battle wildfires in northern Saskatchewan, wandering alone in the woods for about six hours Monday was the result of simply trying to find a place to use the washroom.
“I’m happy to report he’s uninjured, except for his pride … a number of lessons can be learned from this,” said Brig.-Gen. Wayne Eyre.
Eyre says this type of “low-level breakdown” is not uncommon and his troops are trained to deal with them.
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