FireSmart, Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation and the District of Fort St. James, held their annual Community Wildfire Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 3.
The event, which lasted the entire day, began at 8:30 a.m. with the formation of community clean-up teams.
Kirk Miller, Nak’azdli Whut’en land guardian, led a group of high school students, all volunteer firefighters with varying levels of experience—from veterans with 4.5 years under their belts to newcomers who joined in the fall.
“This feels like what communities should feel like, togetherness. We are in this together, through thick and thin,” Miller said. “It was great to share that with the youth and be a role model for them as they learn the same things we share with each other.”
The community yard waste and debris collection ran from 9 a.m. until noon, achieving great success with both street-side and residential clean-ups.
Following the clean-up, a barbecue lunch was hosted by the Boys High School Athletics divisions, with donations supporting their efforts.
Throughout the afternoon, people at various booths distributed information on fire safety. Mark Sam, Nak’azdli Whut’en FireSmart director, and Daniel Braun District of Fort St. James assistant fire chief, were also present.
“We try to put on these types of informational events as much as we can,” Sam stated, while Braun offered residential inspections to ensure home safety for the upcoming season.
Attendees were also treated to screenings of two documentaries and the Neighbourhood Preparedness Guide was distributed throughout the day.
The event drew numerous residents and concluded with a FireSmart presentation on home assessments, treatment plans and protecting homes from wildfires.
