Last fall we were again reminded of the constant threat that fire poses to the PaB community with the very sad destruction of the Phippen cottage. It was a dramatic reminder that we need to stay alert and stay prepared for FIRE.
Over the last several years, our awareness of the need for fire preparation has increased significantly. Many islanders have purchased fire pumps for their cottages and put together Neighbourhood Groups for assistance in an emergency. But what do you do when the call comes in? “There is a fire on a neighbouring island. Your help is required!” You have a fire pump and you’re ready to go, but what do you do when you get there??
Matt Solecki is a 6th generation cottager in Pointe au Baril and he is very aware of the risk fire poses on the islands. He has worked for BC Wildfire Service for more than 10 years as a Wildfire Technician, leading Initial Attack Crews on many BC Wildfires as well as being a member of the Incident Command Team on several large fires. Matt has worked with PaBIA to develop a series of 6 articles on how cottagers can effectively respond to fires on the islands.
Our PaBIA eBlasts will publish one article a week for the next 6 weeks, starting with “Part 1 – How to Protect Your Cottage”.
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