A donation on Tuesday will help better prepare First Nation fire departments across the province.
The Esquimalt fire department gave a Mack engine to the First Nations鈥� Emergency Services Society, which will use the truck to deliver and enhance fire response training across B.C.
鈥淚鈥檓 just grinning ear to ear,鈥� said Dean Colthorp, the society鈥檚 manager of corporate and fire services. 鈥淲hen we get a donation like this where we know that we鈥檙e going to see some benefit for our communities that we serve 鈥� it鈥檚 a great day.鈥�
Esquimalt Fire Chief Steve Serbic said it was awesome for the department to be involved in the donation, which will help small, remote and northern First Nation communities be better prepared.
鈥淥ne of the coolest things about donating this truck is it鈥檚 going to go around to all these communities and actually (be used to) show them, give them hands-on skills, on how to prepare and how to protect their communities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just one truck, but it can make such a difference.鈥�
The Mack engine was received by the Esquimalt department fire since 1988 and was last used by the department as a training truck. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e incredible vehicles, they last forever,鈥� Serbic said.
While newer trucks have modernized some manual operations in firefighting, the pressure gauge systems in trucks haven鈥檛 changed much in the last 100 years, noted Reo Jerome, the society鈥檚 fire services officer.
Added Colthorp: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an older model, but it allows you to understand the mechanism of the pump a little bit better. This one allows you to really master your skills as a pump operator, as well as a driver.鈥�
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B.C. has about 70 Indigenous fire services, each with about 10 to 15 members. With constant turnover in volunteer squads, training is always needed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great benefit,鈥� Colthorp said of the truck. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 even put a dollar value to it quite honestly, it is something that鈥檚 going to be used and worked hard.鈥�
The truck may be used to provide basic training, but Serbic said any knowledge and know-how can be crucial in emergency scenarios, such as when a fast-approaching wildfire is on its way.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in a small or remote community and you do not have the support of a larger department, or infrastructure where people can come help you, it鈥檚 super important to understand what (you) need to do,鈥� he said.
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