MacLeod Forest Services 2024 Year in Review
6 December 2024My condolences to you all who suffered losses in 2024. We lost several legends in the forest industry and in our personal lives. Yet again, towns and communities were devastated and lives disrupted. My heart goes out to you all.
I just completed the 2024 MacLeod Forest Services (MFS) annual review with my customers. My format for this review consists mostly of me driving around drinking other peoples coffee and crashing Christmas parties.
Everyone is just hanging on
Summary of Training Conducted
I spent the spring providing training to a wide variety of customers. Besides my regular customers in the harvest sector of the forest industry I did courses for treeplanters, forest professionals, woodlot owners, First Nations members, Community Wildfire Groups, media representatives, ranchers and farmers, First Responders and tourism operators. Training provided was mostly the MFS Enhanced S100 but I also provided the S100 Annual Refresher, Line Location, Equipment Management, and Wildfire Safety Awareness for First Responders sessions.
The range of wildfire experience of attendees ranged from rookie never been on a fire to 75 year old wily veterans who fought their first fire in their teens. It was challenging trying to meet everyones needs and keep the training interesting.
Treeplanting Contractors
After reviewing recent fire seasons I also prepared and presented a Wildfire Awareness session for treeplanters. This was a temporary measure to try and help contractors keep their crews safe until we can improve training content and delivery and help them meet their response obligations. Two large contractors put their supervisor group through the session. I recorded the presentation and one contractor showed it to their entire workforce in the start-up training day.
In recent big fire seasons I have seldom lost a fire because we didn’t get a control line built in time. It almost always seems that we lose a fire because the line isn’t supported with crews in time. Understandably, crews are often sent to higher priority targets so we need to figure out how to fill this gap. Treeplanters are the only sector of the forest industry that can supply the workers with the necessary level of fitness in the required numbers.
Two treeplanting contractors recognized this and put their entire crews through the full two-day MacLeod Enhanced S100. This will help ensure they meet their obligations regarding any worksite wildfire response. The contractors also recognized this was an opportunity to improve service to their customers and possibly lengthen the work season. They have included a clause in their Service Agreements to supply fire suppression services when needed. Under the Industry Agreement the Licensee can request their services directly when required, bypassing the sometimes overburdened BCWS procurement process. The Licensee has also upgraded their central fire equipment cache to be better prepared to respond to fires with reduced outside help.
Community Cooperative Wildfire Response (CCWR)
It is encouraging to see so many people wanting to step up and help. The groups I provided training to were all keen and concerned but displayed a variety of attitudes and abilities. As described above, my experience in big fire seasons is being short of people that can drag hose, dig guard and do mopup for prolonged periods of time (weeks), in very adverse conditions (very hot weather, long steep hills). Very few of the CCWR participants I dealt with were physically capable of providing this work even on a short term basis like Initial Attack. I stressed that they should focus on completing other valuable tasks like flagging the way into fires, establishing staging areas, identifying water sources, helping with evacuations and other support activities.
Most of the CCWR participants said they just wanted to help and would willingly take instructions from BC Wildfire staff. Others stated they wanted the training and equipment but wouldn’t take instructions from BC Wildfire during a response. During the training I pointed out that if they freelance this way they may be responsible for any injuries, property damage or other losses incurred by their actions. I know there was some damage to infrastructure caused by one of these groups working on their own this summer and I am waiting to hear the results.
Mt Baldy Community Wildfire Group
Development of a Dedicated Training Facility
A real positive from 2024 was the partnership with Jim and Trish Stewart of High Country Forest and Fire in forming the Western Wildfire Training Center at their ranch and woodlot in Kelowna. High Country has a long history of providing high quality fire crews in the US and Canada. The value of a dedicated training facility in providing more effective and consistent training was very evident. As well, we utilized current fire crewmembers for assistant instructors for the practical day to ensure the skills taught were up to date.
One of the courses we put on at our training center was for members of the local Woodlot Assoc. They had met with the local BC Wildfire Zones in the off season with the goal of getting more involved in wildfire response. I have talked with a few of the attendees that had fires in, or near, their woodlots last summer and they were pleased with the improved relationsip with BC Wildfire.
Worksite Wildfire Inspections and Drills
At the start of the field season MFS conducted several worksite wildfire inspections. During these site visits we complete wildfire risk assessments, assess preparedness levels, and conduct response drills.
MFS received very favorable reviews of these services especially from two contractors who had worksite fires. They were able to respond safely and effectively and were successful in keeping the fires very small. In the post fire reviews both contractors stated that the MacLeod training and drills were a major factor in their success. Both fires are still being reviewed but initial indications are that they met or exceeded all obligations for preparedness, prevention and response.
Our on site Fire Drill consists of tool and equipment counts and pump pressures checked. The goal is to deliver adequate water to anywhere on the worksite in 15 minutes or less, depending on the risk assessment.
Many Improvements Noted During Wildfire Response
MacLeod Forest Services also provided Line Location and Construction Supervision on a fire in the Southern Interior. The local BC Wildfire Zone officials kept control as the fire grew past Initial Attack. They only brought in individuals to assist in key roles as necessary. The value of this was very evident in the well organized and efficient reponse. The established relationships, and associated high degree of trust, between the local BC Wildfire staff running the fire, the local Licensee, First Nations, contractors and residents was key to the success. I heard of this happening in several fire zones this summer. The maps and information provided by the Licensee made Line Location much more efficient and reduced unnecessary adverse effects on values in the area. The local knowledge provided by all stakeholders was invaluable and utilized wherever possible.
The BCWS supervisors knew and trusted our equipment group and allowed us to start early. We were usually completing guard construction as the first crews arrived to string hose and start suppression action. There was far less congestion resulting in far fewer equipment/firefighter issues than I have often encountered.
All contractors working the fire said that rates were fair and payment prompt. All of those that used the new electronic Daily Time Records gave them good reviews. Kudos to the Finance group at BC Wildfire for turning this around.
Line Location in the Pasayaten “Land of the Devil” (photo courtesy Paul Shives)
Fire history map indicates fires in this valley in 1924, 1926, 1936, 1946, 1970, 1984,1994, 2006, 2014, 2017, 2022 and 2024
MacLeod Forest Services is considering moving our head office here.
Value of the BCWS S345
Another postive change I noted on this fire was the value of the BC Wildfire Service internal Equipment Course (S345). BC Wildfire crews displayed a much better understanding of heavy equipment capapbilities and limitations. One of the first tasks we were assisgned was improving access by grading roads and installing culverts. This cut the cycle times for water trucks in half, allowed lowbeds to move equipment faster and further, reduced damage to all vehicles and improved access and escape routes for crews. I heard of a bridge being built on one fire this summer to improve access.
We always had a BCWS fire fighter assisgned to watch out for us and I always felt we were in good hands. This was displayed one day when the fire behavior picked up earlier than anticipated. The BCWS crewmember working with us recognized the situation and ordered an immediate withrawl to the safe zone which we all reached with plenty of time to spare. When it comes to crew safety I like stories where nothing happens.
Lack of Trained and Experienced Line Locators
We had problems with getting adequately trained Line Locators on a consistent basis. The terrain was very challenging and fire behavior was extreme. The local Licensee was great at helping where they could but with all demands on the industry these days none of the companies contacted could spare people for extended periods of time. A few larger consulting companies sent people but they weren’t adequately trained or experienced for the work. Improving this is on my 2025 to do list.
Opening up an old guard in Pasayaten – it has been used three times in the past 18 years.
MFS Objectives for 2025
- Establish a Wildfire Working Group consisting of all players. ( See last Blog)
- Continue to improve wildfire training for everyone who needs it in BC.
- Improve the LIne Location and Construction Supervision Training for Industry.
- Develop a Water Tender training package.
- Figure out how to improve delivery of our current training material to meet demand.
- Work on implementing alternate control line construction procedures.
- Drink more of other peoples coffee and crash their Christmas parties again in 2025.
The last load of firewood is cut. I am starting to shut down for the holiday season and hitting the trails. Thanks to everyone I worked with, and for, in 2024. Great job, lets do it again next year!
Merrry Christmas and all the best for a safe and successful 2025.
Doug