F I R S T NAT IONS' S OCIETY OF B C. FNESS Quarterly Responder. FNESS Safety Message: Carbon monoxide. Inside this issue: Special points of interest:

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1 F I R S T NAT IONS' E M E R GENCY S E RV I C E S S OCIETY OF B C Newsletter Date March 2017 Issue: 26 FNESS Quarterly Responder FNESS Safety Message: Carbon monoxide Inside this issue: Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, fuel-burning heating and cooking equipment are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. FNESS Safety Message 1 Fire Services 3 Forest Fuel Management 6 Community Profile 16 The dangers of CO exposure depend on a number of variables, including the victim's health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body's ability to use oxygen (i.e. emphysema, asthma, or heart disease) can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be. A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter period of time. Install CO alarms in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one alarms sounds, all the alarms sound. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for placement and mounting height. Test CO alarms at least once a month and replace them according to the manufacturer s instructions. If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive. Special points of interest: 2017 Local FireSmart Representative Workshop SWPI Intake Application Deadline: April 28, 2017

2 FNESS Safety Message..continued Safety Message brought to you by Office of the Fire Marshall, Nova Scotia docs/homeescapeplan.pdf

3 Fire Services Smoke Alarm and Kitchen Fire Extinguisher Program Now that we ve reached the end of our fiscal year , we are ready to start developing our planning for Our Fire Services department is proud to have shared so many successful stories with our First Nation communities. The 20 programs that the Fire Services delivers to different communities have received a positive feedback from community leaders, fire departments, band managers, Chief and Council and Housing departments. This year, we delivered two boot camps hosted by Ahousaht and Saik uz First Nations; the number of young people who have increased their fire safety knowledge will definitely benefit community members and their families. Also, we had the honour of visiting many communities to help them accomplish their FSA follow up activities and they have shared all their success stories with us. We provided firefighter training to three communities, and with the help of the JIBC, spread the work on free weekend trainings for Fire Officer Development. Moreover, 125 communities have reported to have completed their smoke alarm installation since the beginning of the program and 25 communities have successfully distributed kitchen fire extinguishers at onreserve homes. To close our fiscal year with a bang, our Fire Services and Forest Fuel Management staff worked at the Gathering Our Voices 2017 Aboriginal Youth Conference organized by the BC Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Close to 2000 delegates (14 to 24 years old) in addition to chaperones, volunteers, presenters and exhibitors participated in the four day conference held March 21 to 24, 2017 in Kelowna, BC. Kidde Canada was, once more, a great collaborator and supporter of this event, by giving generous donations to FNESS in addition to 200 Carbon Monoxide detectors for distribution at the GOV. At the FNESS exhibitors booth, our staff and fire officers provided information about fire safety, FNESS programs, and Carbon Monoxide (CO) safety; gave away CO alarms to delegates who made the CO safety pledge; and hosted the photo booth, which had fire safety props, and messages and provide young people with fun opportunities to have pictures taken that included fire safety messages. Fire Services also delivered the Fire Prevention Be A Firefighter workshop in collaboration with the Kelowna Fire Department. Over 100 youth participated in this challenging, engaging and fantastic experience. Westbank First Nation was kind enough to put FNESS in contact with one of their Elders to have the honour of receiving a prayer before the activity for our youth and firefighters. During the workshop, our youth learned about fire prevention: the importance of installing working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and developing home escape plans; fire science; how a fire department operates; and basic firefighter skills. One of the favourite activities, according to the feedback participants provided, was the Aerial Ladder Climbing. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to view the city from high up in the ladder, and experienced the strength and hard work needed to be able to climb an aerial ladder. Photo: Aerial Ladder Climbing

4 The youth were excited to beat their own and each other s records for the hose dragging activity. They had to drag the hose while running, and then get back as fast as possible to the start point. Some of our participants did it more than twice to be able to improve their time and beat their own record. Photo: Hose dragging activities Other fire prevention activities included education on smoke alarms and hands-on fire extinguisher training. Youth enjoyed learning the different types of extinguishers, and having the opportunity to actually use them in a controlled situation Photo: Fire extinguisher training

5 The GOV Event is one of our many highlights of the year. FNESS has the opportunity to engage with the youth to make a meaningful impact through our interactive workshop: Be A Firefighter. They become exposed to skill sets that are required by volunteer and career firefighters as they advance hose lines, hook up hydrants, climb ladders, search rooms and learn how to use fire extinguishers. Fire prevention is an important pillar of our Fire Services department. We look forward to working with youth at the yearly Gathering Our Voices Conference and our regional youth boot camps. We believe our youth is the future of our society and to be able to inspire our First Nations youth to have fire safe communities, while giving them a taste of a life dedicated to the well-being of others, it is absolutely amazing. On behalf of the First Nations Emergency Services Society we would like to thank our partner organizations, collaborators and communities that make this experience possible. We would also like to make special mention of our appreciation of: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Kidde Canada Patrick Folliot The Kelowna Fire Department The City of Kelowna The Fire Prevention Officers Association The Fire Chief s Association of BC We d like to extend a special thank-you to all the youth, chaperons and GOV staff and volunteers for gathering your voices and contribute to the future of our First Nations. Finally, Fire Services Manager Emerson Adoph, sends the following message to our First Nation communities that we had the honour of working with this year: It is with great pleasure I write this to thank you for your hard work and the dedication you have committed to your communities by receiving FNESS workshops and training events. Together, we work well to improve the overall health and safety of each community. It was an honour to visit your community and meet the many and often at times familiar faces. We learn a great deal from each other as we move forward to increase the level of fire protection status of your community through our interactive workshops. We encourage everyone to take a proactive steps to install and maintain a working smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector to increase chances of surviving a residential house fire dramatically. Stay safe my friends.

6 Forest Fuel Management The Forest Fuel Management (FFM) Department is providing updates of department events and activities attended and participated in for the month of March. Events FNESS attended the Gathering our Youth (GOV) Conference hosted in Kelowna on the Traditional Territory of Westbank First Nation. FNESS was honored to be part of the learning experience, as well as First Nations youth were eager to participate and discover our services: Forest Fuel Management and Fire Services. Photos: FNESS Team assisted at the Gathering Our Voice - Youth Conference by educating our future leaders in Forest Fuel Management and Fire Services

7 Events.. continued Photos: Very busy at the FNESS booth enthusiastic youth inquiring about all the services we provide. A Glimpse of the Past of GOV by BCAAFC The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) previously hosted fourteen Aboriginal Youth Conferences. Youth delegates and chaperones from all over the country travel at their own expense to attend these conferences. The purpose of these conferences is to unite youth throughout the country in learning, healing and sharing and to provide tangible tools, resources and knowledge that the youth can bring back to their communities. The first two conferences hosted over 100 youth attendees, while the third saw attendance triple to over 460 youth delegates. The fourth and fifth conferences doubled attendance to over 800 youth. The 2008 Conference in Victoria hosted nearly 1000 people; the 2009 Conference in Kelowna hosted 1300 people; the 2010 Conference in Vancouver and the 2011 Conference in Prince Rupert hosted over 1500 people. In Nanaimo in 2012 over 1600 people attended, in Penticton in 2013 more than 2000 people attended, and in Vancouver in 2014 more than 2200 people attended. In Prince George in 2015 the conference reached capacity months before the event started. Finally, in 2016 in Victoria, we registered 2000 delegates, before early registration even closed. This overwhelming response serves to reinforce the need for a forum where Indigenous youth can come together to begin to make positive changes in their own lives and in their communities.

8 Emergency Management Preparedness (EMP) Funding - On Reserve Fuel Treatment Initiative The EMP INAC project, to conduct forest fuel prescription review and operational fuel treatment projects for 22 First Nations communities is now finalizing all Final Reports and forwarding to FNESS. The project was completed March 31, 2017 and as some community projects extended to the end of March, as a result of weather conditions. The project was a success again this year, organizers look forward to receiving approval for funds for the fiscal year. Photo: Akisq nuk On-Reserve Fuel Treatment

9 Emergency Management Preparedness (EMP) Funding - On Reserve Fuel Treatment Initiative continued Photo Fort Nelson On Reserve INAC Operational Treatment Photo: Adams Lake On Reserve INAC Operational Treatment

10 Emergency Management Preparedness (EMP) Funding - On Reserve Fuel Treatment Initiative continued Photo Adams Lake On Reserve INAC Operational Treatment Photo: Tobacco Plains On Reserve INAC Operational Treatment

11 Chilliwack LFR Workshop - March 14 & 15 Update The First Nations Emergency Services Society, and Forest Fuel Management Department, in coordination with Partners in Protection, was pleased to provide a series of Local FireSmart Representative Workshops in British Columbia for These workshops provided participants the knowledge, skills and tools to protect their communities from wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires by becoming Local FireSmart Representatives in their communities. The first LFR workshop took place on February 22nd and 23rd, 2017, in Kamloops, BC, Twenty-seven people attended and received a certificate. Jonas Joe, RFT, from FNESS assisted with co-delivery of the training. The second LFR workshops were held March 14th and 15th in Chilliwack, BC, with a total of 32 participants. Shane Wardrobe Forest Fuel Management Liaison assisted with co-delivery of the training. Photo: Local FireSmart Representative Workshop hosted on the Traditional Territory of the Stó:lō Nation, Chilliwack March 14th & 15th

12 Promo & Educational Awareness The FireSmart Home Partners Pilot Project that has been approved for first of its kind in BC - has been implemented for the Fort Nelson First Nation IR#2. The pilot project was developed through partnerships with First Nations Emergency Services (FNESS), Partners in Protection, Fort Nelson First Nation, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), and the Forest Enhancement Society (FES). FNESS FFM department was approved for $40, of a $77,500 project. INAC funded $20,000 and FES contributed $20,000 with the balance contributed from listed partners. Research and case studies have proven that the most effective method of reducing individual structure ignition susceptibility from wildfire is to implement FireSmart mitigation strategies to the structure and site (Home Ignition Zone or HIZ ). The pilot project is proposed for the Fort Nelson First Nations Indian Reserve #2. Fort Nelson First Nation has just over 700 members and has 10 reserves. Total reserve land base is hectares. IR #2 is the largest and is located at Mile 295 off the Alaska Highway and is the main reserve and home to about half the Fort Nelson First Nation population. Implementation of the FireSmart Home Partners Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Assessment Pilot Project for the Fort Nelson First Nation will enable the collection of data required for the development and implementation of specific FireSmart mitigation on individual properties, as well as provide residential and critical infrastructure statistics required for community wildfire protection planning, emergency management planning, fuel management treatments and decision support for Fire Safety Assessments, prevention initiatives and fire insurance providers. Photo: Fort Nelson First Nation IR2

13 Promo & Educational Awareness continued Wildfire Prevention Survey Extended to April 30th Complete the survey on community action in BC now! The Problem: Our Purpose: Action: Benefits: Wildfire in the wildland-urban interface is an increasing problem in BC To better understand community plans & actions on wildfire prevention. 25-questions will take ~30 minutes: Identify barriers and share ideas to improve action to reduce fire risk. Your participation is optional but we would appreciate your input to make wildfire prevention accessible to all communities in BC. Dr. Lori Daniels Tree-Ring Lab at UBC Forest and Conservation Sciences Forestry, The University of British Columbia 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4 T: What is the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI)? The Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI) is a suite of funding programs managed through the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Working Group including the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS), Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). Funding is provided by the Province of BC and is administered by UBCM. The initiative supports communities to mitigate risk from wildfire in the wildland urban interface. Community Wildfire Protection Plan & CWPP Update Program The CWPP program assists local governments and First Nations in identifying the risks of wildfire to their community as well as opportunities to reduce those risks. The purpose of a CWPP is to identify the wildfire risks within and surrounding a community, to describe the potential consequences if a wildfire was to impact the community, and to examine possible ways to reduce the wildfire risk. The CWPP program can contribute a maximum of 75% of the cost of eligible activities to a maximum of $22,500. The remainder (25%) is required to be funded through community contributions. Fuel Management Prescription Program The Fuel Management Prescription program assists local governments and First Nations to develop prescriptions for areas in the WUI that are at risk from wildfires and which were identified as priorities in the CWPP. A fuel management prescription is a document that identifies the objectives and strategies to lower the wildfire hazard in an identified area. Prescriptions ensure that proposed treatments include clearly defined objectives for fuel management that will result in a measurable reduction in the wildfire risk to a value while meeting all legislated and non-statutory requirements. The Fuel Management Prescription program can contribute a maximum of 75% of the cost of eligible activities and the remainder (25%) is required to be funded through community contributions.

14 What s SWPI?...continued Fuel Management Demonstration Projects The Fuel Management Demonstration project program assists local governments and First Nations to undertake smallscale treatments. Fuel Management Demonstration Projects are small-scale projects, in the WUI, in areas that are at risk from wildfires, and which are designed to: Demonstrate fuel management treatments and increase public awareness of fuel management Test methodologies and equipment prior to implementing large-scale operational fuel treatment projects Explore the economic and operational viability of different fuel treatment methodologies The Fuel Management Demonstration Project program can contribute a maximum of 75% of the cost of eligible activities to a maximum of $25,000. The remainder (25%) is required to be funded through community contributions. Operational Fuel Treatment Program The Operational Fuel Treatment program assists local governments and First Nations to undertake operational fuel treatments that are set out in a prescription in areas identified as priorities in the CWPP. The primary objective of the program is to maximize the number of hectares treated in areas that pose the greatest risk of wildfire to communities. Operational fuel management is defined as the process of changing forest fuel to reduce aggressive fire behaviour. This may include treatments such as thinning, spacing and pruning trees, and removal of needles and woody debris from the forest floor. The intent is to reduce fuel load in the forest and reduce the potential for devastating wildfires. The Operational Fuel Treatment program can contribute a maximum of 90% of the cost of eligible activities up to $400,000 in funding per municipality or First Nation per calendar year, and up to $600,000 in funding per regional district per calendar year. The remainder (10%) is required to be funded through community contributions Photo: L-R Tony Netro & Brenden Mercer, TFT FNESS conducting a final site inspection of the 5 Mile Point Operational Treatment in Taku River Tlingit

15 2017 SWPI FireSmart Planning Grant Program The FireSmart Communities Program, provided by Partners in Protection, is designed to encourage self-organized groups of residents to take the lead in implementing solutions for wildfire safety on their own properties. First Nations and individual neighbourhoods or subdivisions within local governments that are in areas prone to wildfire can earn FireSmart Community Recognition status by meeting the criteria set by Partners in Protection. The 2017 SWPI FireSmart Planning grant program provides funding to local governments and First Nations in BC to support residents to undertake FireSmart planning activities for private lands, as identified by Partners in Protection through the FireSmart Communities Program, and/or to develop or advance local planning efforts to mitigate risk from wildfire on private lands in the wildland urban interface. The program can also support residents or community groups within a local government or First Nation to take the required actions in order to achieve and/or maintain FireSmart Community Recognition status from Partners in Protection. The 2017 SWPI FireSmart Planning grant program can contribute up to 100% of the cost of eligible activities to a maximum of $10,000. Next SWPI Intake Application Deadline: April 28, 2017 All SWPI applications from First Nations Communities for CWPP; Fuel Management Prescription; and Operational Treatments/maintenance to be submitted directly to Union British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) at swpi@ubcm.ca and mail: UBCM 525 Government Street, Victoria, V8V 0A8 SWPI Intake Application Deadline April 28, 2017

16 Additional Funding for Wildfire Risk Reduction March 22, 2017 The Forest Enhancement Society of BC will be providing funding for the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative to jointly fund some operational fuel treatments. Starting in April 2017, eligible applicants may apply through SWPI to access joint funding from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. To be eligible for joint funding, projects must be on provincial Crown land and the applicant must commit to tendering the project. Funding permitted, joint funding for operational fuel treatments will be available: 1. To allow applicants to access funding in excess of the annual SWPI funding maximums; 2. For operational logical treatments with areas inside the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and outside of the WUI. 3. For unincorporated areas within regional districts that cannot be treated due to fiscal constraints related to service area requirements and the required 10% community contribution. For more information, refer to the updated 2017 Operational Fuel Treatment Program & Application Guide available at or contact UBCM at or National FireSmart Canada, Community Recognition Program We have been very active assisting First Nations and local governments to engage in the FireSmart Community Recognition Program. The objective for this year is to progress First Nations and local government into the FireSmart Canada Community recognition program. The following communities recently received FireSmart community recognition. 1. Akisq nuk First Nation new recognition. 2. Predator Ridge new recognition. 3. Steelhead Community Association new recognition. 4. Coldwater Band 2016 renewal 5. Anarchist Mountain renewal 6. Rushmere renewal 7. Queens Bay renewal 8. Penticton Indian Band new recognition. Community Profile: Akisq nuk First Nation Columbia Valley Community who recognize their vulnerability to wildfire. The Akisq nuk FN is a vibrant community of 300 people situated in the Columbia Valley just 10 minutes south of Invermere B.C. The community is nestled between Lake Windermere to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east. Members of the Akisq nuk First Nation are people of the Ktunaxa (pronounced Too-nah-ha ) Nation. The traditional territory of the Ktunaxa includes the Kootenay region of SE British Columbia and parts of Alberta, Montana, Washington and Idaho. The Ktunaxa peoples have a language that is unique and it cannot be linked to any other native language in North America. Adrian Bergles, Lands Manager for the band has been very proactive in securing Ecosystem Restoration, IN- AC, SWPI and BC Hydro Compensation funds to help address the forest fuel risks surrounding the community. Adrian has been proactive in employing on-reserve crews wherever practical and has even pursued options on BCBid to secure local contractors at competitive pricing to ensure the maximum amount of area is treated around the community.

17 Photo : Akisq nuk First Nation Adrian has learned a great deal through his involvement with these programs and is an accomplished administrator. The Akisq nuk FN has been busy treating hazardous forest fuels on and surrounding their reserve for many years. The provincial Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI) has provided a fund to treat approximately 200 hectares of crown land adjacent to the reserve. Recently the band completed a comprehensive update of its Community Wildfire Protection Plan and identified new areas and opportunities to enhance its wildfire resilience. The band has identified some Landscape Level Fuel Breaks that will provide strong lines of defence in the event of a wildfire. The Akisq nuk FN has just recently been awarded FireSmart Community Recognition for successfully identifying and treating fire hazards and making improvements to its fire prevention infrastructure. This is a progressive band that is taking big steps to protect its membership. Congratulations Akisq nuk First Nation! F I R S T N A T I O N S ' E M E R G E N C Y S E R V I C E S S O C I E T Y O F B C Vancouver Office Squamish Nation Traditional Territory Orwell Street North Vancouver, BC V7J 3R5 Phone: or Fax: info@fness.bc.ca Like us on Facebook Kamloops Office Tk emlups te Secwepemc (TteS) Traditional Territory A274 Halston Road Kamloops, BC V2H 1P7 Phone: Or Fax: ffminfo@fness.bc.ca Follow us on Twitter