By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thirty-two fire departments across the province each received a new piece of equipment for early wildfire response March 17, a welcome addition to existing resources in light of the devastating fires that ravaged parts of Newfoundland last summer.
Pickup trucks from departments as far away as Port Aux Choix lined up at the Loblaws Atlantic warehouse on a rainy morning in Mount Pearl to load specially designed fire skids that are the creation of Global Medic, a Canadian-based nonprofit established in 1998.
Rahul Singh, the group’s executive director, said the Canadian-made skids are revolutionary as they transform a pickup truck into a first response fire suppression unit.
“It's a 1,000-gallon tank. You see the tank, it's mounted on a welded (aluminum) skid, right? There's a pump and a hose, and it turns any pickup truck into a fire truck,” Singh said during a press event prior to distribution of the skids.
The units come with 50 feet of forestry hose and are 43" wide by 76" long with an overall height of about 46". They weigh 280 pounds empty and around 2,500 lbs full.
Singh added the skids – which cost around $4,000 each – are more economical, considering fire trucks cost in the neighbourhood of $1.4 million or more. The skids also bring more operational flexibility.
“A fire truck can't get into the woods. It isn't easy to manage, and you can't take fire trucks from communities to other communities because you’ve got to protect that initial community,” Singh said.
Global Medic is also training teams on drones with thermal technology to better locate fires and hit hot spots early.
Chris Murphy, a five-year firefighter with the Conception Bay South Fire Department, said the fire skids are a welcome addition to supplement existing resources for wildfire suppression.
“We do have some things that we are outfitted with – small pumps and forestry packs and hoses,” he said. “But this is going to be a great tool to help supplement those tools that we already have. We're going to be able to get this piece of firefighting equipment into tight areas, and our objective is going to be to get a quick knock on the fire before it gets the chance to grow and become something that's a major situation like we saw last year. Fire knows no borders, so this will be a potential big help for other communities as well.”
A wildfire that started near Kingston last August burned some 10,000 acres, prompted several community evacuations and destroyed around 200 structures over the span of three weeks.
Murphy said those wildfires prompted the re-evaluation of action plans leading up to this coming fire season.
“It’s going to be here before you know it,” he said.
Pleaman Forsey, Newfoundland Minister of Disaster Preparedness, began his comments by addressing the dozens of volunteer fire personnel in attendance, and thanking them for their service.
“This initiative from Global Medic will help you continue the supports we need for our communities,” he said, adding the Province will be working with the departments to provide equipment and training to prepare for this fire season.