Wildfire Training Improvement

During recent wildfire seasons members of the public and various industries have had less than expected, or no, help from BC Wildfire. I suspect this situation is going to be increasingly common in the future. Several groups are requesting training and various levels of government are organizing the required funding.

I am worried that the current basic wildfire training is not up to the required standard. Much of the material is out of date or incomplete. As well, instructors are not assessed for experience or skills. Some groups are developing training on their own. There is no central data base for tracking completed training and required recurrencies.

Safety is my key concern. Just like a first aid course we all need to have the same basic training in key procedures and skills. The training must be timely, achievable, effective, up to date and cost-efficient. Standardized training will also improve response efficiency.

I am not sure that BC Wildfire can provide these required upgrades. A group of us are in the initial stages of trying to rectify this problem.

See the attached video introducing a course I prepared for the forest industry. It has been well received and with a bit of work can be applicable to other industries (Agriculture, Recreation, Oil and Gas, Construction) as well as communities and individual residents.

Let me know what you think.

Doug