Fourty-six firefighters participated in Engine Boss this past weekend in Nanaimo. (David Dales)

By Ian Holmes

interface fires

‘Quick, efficient and safe:’ wildfire suppression skills sharpened in Nanaimo

Mar 11, 2025 | 5:42 AM

NANAIMO — Worrying about wildfires encroaching on communities on Vancouver Island is no longer a distant concern.

With ample evidence showing interface fires are an increasing threat in the province, regional fire crews received online training, as well as day-long field exercises under the watch of BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) personnel.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) assistant chief David Dales said nearly 50 firefighters representing eight Vancouver Island departments, as well as Powell River, converged on Nanaimo on Saturday, March 8 for the exercise.

“Engine Boss is all about being quick, efficient and safe to knock those little spot fires down before they can grow to something bigger,” Dales told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Engine Boss is the BC Wildfire Service’s component of structural protection and defence, a hallmark of urban volunteer and professional fire departments, Dales noted.

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He said a trend toward faster and hotter flames, further-traveling fire embers and wind are all significant concerns for structural threats during a wildfire event.

Tactics to action interface fires as well as communication between partners were featured in the exercise. (David Dales)

Dales said urban firefighters need to have the ability to put out spot fire and move on to the next one.

“As opposed to anchoring into a fire hydrant, putting out hand-lines where really your sole focus is one address — whereas strategy and tactics of the Engine Boss is where you can literally save a community.”

He noted Engine Boss is heavily centered on communication as an interface wildfire scenario involves multiple partners, as well as being creative to maximize water resources.

Ten NFR members received the Engine Boss training, which Dales said has been instructed about 75 times by the BCWS.

“Sadly, they’ve had to use those skills for real and those skills were effective.”

Ironically, the drill was held during heavy rainfall all day Saturday.

The exercise was staged at several south Nanaimo locations.

In particular, Dales thanked residents of the Willow Park mobile home community off Nanaimo Lakes Rd. for their patience.

The exercise complements four days of field exercises done in Nanaimo late last year by the International Association of Firefighters.

Eight fire departments from the mid/north Vancouver Island areas and sunshine coast were represented in the Engine Boss training on Saturday, march 8 in Nanaimo. (David Dales)

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