Charlie Lake firefighters to assist with California wildfires after PRRD approves request

CHARLIE LAKE, B.C. — Firefighters from Charlie Lake are set to make their way south in an effort to combat the wildfires ravaging California.

During the January 23rd Peace River Regional District (PRRD) board meeting, a request from the Charlie Lake Fire Department to deploy personnel alongside BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) firefighters in California was approved.

According to the request form, BCWS contacted fire departments across the province, requesting they identify their available equipment for structure protection and defense in case they were needed to combat the blazes in the United States.

The Charlie Lake Fire Department will offer BCWS the use of one 2012 Rosenbaur truck with a 1,500-gallon tank, its recently purchased structure protection unit trailer, and a rescue vehicle with a 300-gallon “skid unit”.

Skid units are small, self-contained firefighting apparatuses that can be easily transported. 

An additional “squad” vehicle with a 250-gallon skid unit may also be deployed alongside the rest, with its crew acting as a support team for the other vehicles.

All other equipment owned by the department would stay in Charlie Lake to deal with local fires.

The decision isn’t expected to have any significant financial implications for the PRRD, as the province will reimburse the district for the use of its equipment and firefighters.