Nanaimo Fire Rescue's David Dales was deployed to fires in Kelowna in late August, calling the experience one of the most challenging and rewarding of his 27 year career. (BC Wildfire Service)

By Alex Rawnsley

kelowna fires

‘Very unique and very humbling:’ Nanaimo firefighter heralds Kelowna counterparts in battling Interior wildfires

Sep 7, 2023 | 12:22 PM

NANAIMO — A local firefighter is back to his normal duties after a special deployment to the wildfire-ravaged interior.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief David Dales, serving in his dual capacity as a task force leader with the BC Wildfire Service, was deployed for nearly a week in late August to fires burning in the Kelowna region stemming from the destructive McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna.

Dales said shifts upwards of 21 hours long meant it was a constant cycle of finding fires, extinguishing then moving on in demanding conditions.

“It’s showering embers, there’s little fires starting everywhere. All night, we’re doing tactical patrols, we’re chasing fires in backyards, fire would move as the temperatures change, as the winds change, it’s very challenging.”

Fires charred considerable areas of the West Kelowna and Kelowna landscape, destroying around 100 structures but is not reported to be directly responsible for any loss of life.

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Crews from across the province leant a hand, with Dales joined by others from the central Island, north Island and Lower Mainland.

Dales’ team alone would respond to between 30 and 50 911 calls per shift to battle approaching flames from decks or backyards of homes.

Many were called in by evacuated homeowners watching fires approach on their home security cameras.

Dales told NanaimoNewsNOW his experience in Kelowna was unique as it was the first time he’d been paired with local firefighters battling in their own community.

“Multiple times we were driving past someone in our task force’s house to check for fire in someone’s backyard of their neighbours. The Kelowna firefighters…and the Surrey firefighters, personally saved homes of their neighbours. I’ve never been deployed with the locals protecting local resources, so this was very unique and very humbling.”

Kelowna and West Kelowna residents were immensely thankful for the fire crews, including ones which travelled from other areas of the province to help out. (BC Wildfire Service)

When not actively fighting fire or responding to calls, Dales and his team would drive through evacuated communities to find and snuff out fires.

Vehicles would drive, windows down, and stop to investigate anytime someone smelt new smoke. Dales called it “triage”.

“In the evacuation zone because all the cars have been evacuated it’s just firetrucks driving, code three, door-to-door, putting out a fire, scraping the dirt, confirming the fire’s out, jumping in the truck, throwing the hose on the truck and driving as fast as you can to the next target.”

Despite being relatively new to Nanaimo, arriving around 18 months ago, Dales called the work in Kelowna some of the most rewarding and challenging of his career.

He credited changes from 2018 by the BC Wildfire Service to make strategy, tactics, training and communication more uniform among B.C. fire departments, aiding in situations where people of different backgrounds work together under stressful conditions.

Crews from across Vancouver Island and B.C. travelled to Kelowna and the surrounding area to help local crews battle and contain massive wildfires. (BC Wildfire Service)

Dales added the response from Kelowna locals was at times overwhelming.

“When I was in the non-evacuated zone in my Nanaimo Fire Rescue command vehicle, I would literally have people come, knocked on the window and personally thank the residents and taxpayers of Nanaimo for allowing me to use my skill sets in their community, they were very thankful.”

Evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect for the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna, with a vast majority of residents north of Hwy. 97 either out of the homes or expected to leave at a moment’s notice.

Firefighters continue to make headway however on controlling the 137 square kilometre blaze.

Two associated fires in Kelowna are listed as under control by the BC Wildfire Service.

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