By Ethan Ready
The Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society began the planning stages of a Regional Training Centre in the summer of 2017.
Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society has received $60,000 from Nadleh Whut’en First Nations for their Live Fire Burn Building at the Regional Training Centre.
President of the Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Society, Dave Christie states, “for firefighters, a live fire burn building is of the utmost importance. You need real scenarios to train in so you’re prepared for when the real event happens.”
The project is a result of the closure of Fort St. James centre.
The proximity of the now-closed centre worked well for Fraser Lake. With the closure, their members are now required to travel to 150 Mile house or further in order to gain access to the same training — quite the substantial distance to travel for firefighters in order to receive the necessary training required for them to remain certified.
Christie says the partnership with neighbouring Nadleh Whut-en First Nations, along with the contribution of $60,000, brings the group an estimated six weeks away from securing the total funds required for the project.
“We are aiming to have the live fire burn building open for area firefighters to use by July of 2019,” says Christie.
Over the past year, the Nadleh Whut-en has contributed an additional $41,488 towards a Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Unit. Training on that unit began immediately after its arrival in July of last year, aiding tremendously in allowing Nadleh, Stellaquo, and Fraser Lake units to assist in battling the Shovel Lake and Island Lake wildfires.