Safety Message Smoke alarms save lives Smoke alarms save lives and prevent injuries by warning residents of a fire hazard. Properly installed and maintained, smoke alarms are one of the best and least expensive ways to provide early warning when a fire begins. How long do smoke alarms last? Smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years, whether battery-operated or hardwired (120V). How many smoke alarms do I need in my home? Fire safety experts, such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recommend installing smoke alarms on every floor of the home, in hallways, inside bedrooms and outside of all sleeping areas.
Community Profile The Simpcw First Nations are members of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. The Band currently has a resident population of approximately 275, with a total band membership of approximately 727. The community of Simpcw has many forestry and fire related services available to its members including a Volunteer fire department and a Natural Resources Department. The community of Simpcw started volunteer Fire Department in 1985 with 8 members at the time. All the members of the fire department have undergone regular training through FNESS and Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC). Since the Fire Department inception it has been important to Simpcw as well as the larger community of Barriere by helping in the 2003 wildfire events. Simpcw Natural Resources assists the community by addressing any projects that could impact the resources found within Simpcw territory. The resource department also assists by issuing resource permits, participating in contract negotiation and developing GIS maps are some of the many activities the resource department is responsible for. Recently Brenden Mercer, TFT and Harry Spahan, RFT of FNESS met with members of Simpcw First Nations for the purpose of looking at ways to promote fire prevention and awareness in the community. Through the Fire and Resources departments leadership programs like FireSmart, SWPI and INAC on reserve fuel reduction project, can help reduce the risk of wildfire in a community. Photos: Simpcw First Nation
Staff Profile Kynan ORourke Born and raised in Kelowna, lived in the Okanagan Valley my whole life. Tsawwassen First Nation is my community; my grandmother was a leader within the coastal Salish nation. My immediate family still resides on the coast within the TFN lands Married 25 years Four girls: Ages 24,23,20,18 1 puppy (she goes everywhere) No cats Firefighting experience: 11 years with West Kelowna Fire Rescue POC, Captain MBSS Junior FF program lead instructor/manager Live Fire instructor/evaluator for numerous departments within the Okanagan and surrounding areas Specializing in Forcible entry, big box search, large water attacks. I am looking forward to working on the next community requiring training for structure protection/ firefighting skill development Kynan O Rourke
Fire Services Department The Fire Service department delivered the Fire Protection Leadership Governance workshop to Kitsumkalum, and Halfway River. Each community with its own unique characteristics allows the Fire Service department to contribute in a meaningful way to assist them to reach a level of fire protection that proves satisfactory. It is our goal to assist communities to succeed at achieving the majority or all the recommendations stated in their respective Fire Safety Assessment (FSA) Report conducted by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Each year, INAC performs an assessment to gauge where the community s level of fire protection is at. The Fire Service department and Forest Fuel Management department both paid a respective visit to Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek/Dog Creek), where we followed up on the development of a Band Council Resolution for fire prevention. Also, we helped investigate new meaningful ways to retain volunteer firefighters. Moreover, Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation also attained National FireSmart Recognition and received the commemorative FireSmart signage to display proudly in their community. Photo: Fire Services Officer Emerson Adolph with Stswecem'c Xgat'tem: discussions revolved around Band Council Resolution for fire prevention, recruitment and retention of firefighters, fire safety assessment and FireSmart recognition. The annual Shuswap Gathering was held in Skeetchestn this year and First Nations Emergency Services Society attended to meaningfully engage the public. We set up a booth where those at the event were able to obtain information on FNESS s programs outlined in Fire Services and Forest Fuel Management departments, and fire and life safety messages.
The pilot program: Penticton Pilot Project, which revolves around training the volunteer firefighters to a level outlined in the Playbook, is in its final leg of its journey which will see tremendous success. FNESS and the Justice Institute of BC partnered to deliver the Exterior Operation Level of training to Penticton Volunteer Firefighters. Fire Service Officer Kynan O Rourke has been working diligently to instruct the pilot program. We acknowledge the great effort it is taking for all (instructors and Penticton volunteer firefighters) to see a successful completion which involves certification upon completion. Photo: Penticton Indian band pilot program firefighter training We look forward to working with your community, and if you have any questions regarding any of FNESS s programs, please feel free to contact fire services at 1 888 822 3388 or email FNESS at info@fness.bc.ca for inquiries regarding fire prevention or firefighter training.
Forest Fuel Management (FFM) Department The Forest Fuel Management (FFM) Department is providing updates of Department events and activities attended and participated in for the month of August. Events Forest Fuel Management (FFM) Department and Emerson Adolph, Fire Services Manager visited Stswecem c-xgat tem First Nations (Canoe Creek Band) on August 16 th, 2016. Jeff Eustache RFT, FFM Manager presented Chief & Council, Fire Department representative, their 2016 FireSmart sign acknowledging their FireSmart Community Recognition; and the memorable Paddle commemorating their completion of the 2012 successful Operational Fuel Treatment project through the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI) - a suite of funding programs administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) and managed through the SWPI Management Working Group. Photo: Stswecem c- Xgat tem First Nation (Canoe Creek) FireSmart Community Recognition & Paddle Presentations 2016-17 Emergency Management Preparedness Funding - On Reserve Fuel Treatment Initiative A proposal was submitted to INAC for the 2016-17 fiscal years, to conduct forest fuel prescription review and operational fuel treatment projects for another 25 First Nations communities. We have received approval for $2, 015,131.13 million. Approval was granted for full project July 21, 2016 we have the funding to implement the 25 communities fuel treatments for on reserve. Please check out our website at http://fness.bc.ca/aboriginal-affairs-northern-development-canada-aandc-on-reserve-forest-fuelreduction-treatments-project/ for latest updates. Applications close on Wednesday Aug 31, 2016.
Photo: T it qet Treatment 2016 FireSmart FNESS is proud to be recognized by the Province and Partners in Protection (Canada) to lend support for First Nations (BC), as part of the National FireSmart Community recognition program. Coldwater FireSmart Presentation on August 12 th 2016, Harry Spahan, RFT and Jeff Eustache RFT, FNESS conducted a FireSmart community presentation to the Coldwater Band summer students, whom are doing various stages of FireSmart Activity. We also discussed INAC on-reserve fuel treatment funding project. Photo: Coldwater Band Summer Students
Promo & Educational Awareness FNESS was welcomed at the 34th Annual Secwepemc Gathering, hosted by Skeetchestn First Nation August 19 th to 21 st 2016 Photo: 34th Annual Secwepemc Gathering Wildland Fire Canada 2016 Conference Building Resilience The Wildland Fire Canada 2016 Conference Building Resilience will be held in Kelowna, BC October 24th to 28th 2016. Registration is required. For more details and to register, please go to http://www.wildlandfire2016.ca or call 1-250-387-5965 Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI) The Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI) is a suite of funding programs managed through the SWPI Working Group. SWPI supports BC communities to mitigate risk(s) from wildfire in the wildland urban interface (WUI) to improve community safety, through the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), forest fuel prescription development, demonstration projects and implementation of operational fuel treatment projects. The SWPI Working Group is comprised of designated representatives from FNESS, BC Wildfire Service, Ministry of Forest Lands & Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). New SWPI Application Process All applications from First Nations Communities for Fuel Management Prescriptions, and Operational Treatments and maintenance must be submitted by Friday October 7 th 2016 to UBCM at swpi@ubcm.ca.
Photo: Westbank First Nation Operational Treatment 2016 Follow us on Twitter