Sun Peaks Fire Rescue on what to expect from this summer

As wildfire season approaches, Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) remains hard at work with year-round training and community engagement aimed at boosting wildfire resilience. 

Captain James Griffiths spoke with SPIN about what the community should expect from this summer.

Weather outlook 

Weather-wise, the year began with drier-than-usual conditions in January and February.  However, March brought significant precipitation that helped improve drought conditions across the southern regions of the province. 

“The snowpacks in certain areas vary pretty greatly,” Griffiths said. “At the beginning of May in the North Thompson, the snowpack was at 84 per cent of average. The next forecast from the province comes out at the beginning of June.”

The long-range forecast calls for warmer-than-average temperatures, along with above-average precipitation, though experts caution that the predictions should be taken with a grain of salt due to their inherent uncertainty. 

“We’ve been pretty lucky so far this year,” Griffiths said. “We’ve had plenty of precipitation up here and yet we’ve still got snow on the peaks. We’ve had a fairly quiet start to the year.”

With training in full swing, community risk reduction efforts and ongoing coordination with provincial agencies, SPFR is taking a proactive stance to ensure the safety and preparedness of the community. 

SPFR Preparation

“So far this year, we’ve had three members attend the wildfire resiliency and training summit training weekend and then we had two members attend the conference down in Penticton,” Griffiths said. “The training weekend consists of joint training between structural fire departments and B.C. wildfire.”

In addition, 23 members are participating in annual wildfire training throughout May. This essential training ensures the crew remains sharp and ready for any potential fire-related incidents as the warmer months set in. 

SPFR is also taking steps to engage the Sun Peaks community. Spring curbside chipping returned May 26, allowing residents to dispose of green waste and fire-prone materials from their yards. Firefighters will carry out the chipping as a proactive step towards reducing fuel loads around properties. 

Looking ahead, June 21 will bring another event, when B.C. Wildfire Services will host the Engine Boss Course in Sun Peaks. The course will see structural fire departments from across the province gather for scenario-based training exercises in collaboration with B.C. Wildfire personnel.