NFR Crews and IAF fire master instructors are working together on four one-day field courses this week in Nanaimo. (David Dales)

By Ian Holmes

interface fires

Nanaimo Fire Rescue enhances skills to combat interface fires

Dec 19, 2024 | 5:35 AM

NANAIMO — Climate change has Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) officials paying closer attention to increasingly volatile forest fire behaviour.

Following online courses taken by about 80 NFR members, four days of field exercises conclude Thursday, Dec. 19 as part of programming assembled by the International Association of Firefighters (IAF).

‘Responding to the Interface’ applies locally, noted Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief David Dales, who stated wildland training is important given ever-present threats.

“The data is showing us that our fires are hotter, they last longer, and they don’t cool down in the late afternoon as much,” Dales told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Several purposely set fires along the Nanaimo Parkway on July 4, 2023 presented a potentially disastrous interface fire. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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He said prolonged drought conditions and static humidity until late in the evening are worrying new realities breathing more life into interface fires.

Another concern is the ability for fire embers to travel several kilometers, referencing a devastating forest fire in West Kelowna in 2023 which spanned the width of Okanagan Lake.

“Even though we don’t necessarily have a fire threat always in the City of Nanaimo, outside the City of Nanaimo fires can become our problem,” he said.

NFR crews are undergoing extensive field training to improve their interface fire response capabilities. (David Dales)

Dales noted the IAF, the union of professional firefighters in North America, has six fire masters in Nanaimo leading the field training.

He said the training program is in response to the IAF flagging gaps in interface fire risks and training.

Dales pointed out extensive residential development bordering forests, particularly in the southern ends of Nanaimo, is another reason to enhance their interface firefighting skills.

“We’re staying on top of future risks and how to counter those risks,” Dales said.

This March Dales said a substantial regional wildland training exercise will include involving several agencies, including neighbouring rural fire departments.

NFR members did online courses in advance of wildland field training this week. (David Dales)

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