Halifax Fire creates new wildfire mitigation program job

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency has created a position as part of efforts to prepare for and try to prevent wildfire situations like the one last year that tore through a residential area near Upper Tantallon.

The wildfire mitigation program manager job is a new one that starts this month.

Deputy chief Roy Hollett said he couldn’t find a similar position anywhere in Canada, but it is common in municipalities in the United States under various titles.

“It’s someone who works with a municipal (fire) department who has an expertise and understanding of wildfire issues,” he said, adding that the job also requires someone with a knowledge of structure fires and how they burn as part of a forest fire.

“It’s not as simple as just going in and putting water on the fire, there’s a whole lot more to this,” he said.

“We’re seeing climate change issues, the weather change, too much water, lack of water.”

He said that as he continues to attend conferences and seminars on the issue, the conversations are shifting from preventing forest fires to making them less severe when they happen.

Hollett said he thinks one of the first priorities will be expanding the Firesmart program that teaches communities and organizations about wildfire preparedness and doing what is needed to reduce the risk of widespread damage in residential areas should a wildfire break out or burn in that direction.

“The other piece is looking at our strategy we’ve put together, and if it needs to be refined . . . looking at the equipment we have in our stations and working with our district chiefs to ensure we have the right equipment in the right location.”

The department has already announced its intention to purchase four forest fire vehicles as part of its effort to prepare for future events.

Wildfire season across the province started March 15.

Last year’s fire started in late May and burned for more than a week, destroying 150 homes and forcing the evacuation of 16,000 people.