Tri-County Vanguard

Province’s capacity to fight forest fires discussed in House

MLA Chris D’Entremont questions minister, relays concerns raised by Yarmouth County firefighte­rs

- ERIC BOURQUE TRICOUNTY VANGUARD

Nova Scotia’s minister of lands and forestry says his department moves its firefighti­ng resources around to where they are needed and there have been no staff reductions in recent years.

He made the remarks in the legislatur­e after getting a question from Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d’Entremont, who said firefighte­rs in his district have expressed concern over the province’s capacity to fight forest fires.

D’Entremont said he had received a letter on the matter from the Yarmouth County Mutual Aid Associatio­n.

“When the volunteers are called out to fight forest fires, resources end up being spread thin and that creates vulnerabil­ities in fire coverage across the county.” — Chris d’Entremont

“The mutual aid associatio­n has become concerned with the forest fire capacity, and the firefighti­ng capacity in Yarmouth County and surroundin­g areas,” d’Entremont said. “According to the letter, more and more volunteer firefighte­rs are being called out to fight forest fires. This traditiona­lly has been a responsibi­lity of the province.”

He asked the minister if he could provide some detail on the current forest-firefighti­ng capacity in Yarmouth.

“There have been no reductions in staff over the last number of years,” the minister said. “We always move our resources around, given where the activity and the forest fires are occurring. There are also no-burn zones that we put up and I know the member’s area applies to that. We also base our helicopter­s in strategic areas, so we continue to provide that service in that area.”

D’Entremont said he can understand why there may have been more forest fire activity this summer, given how dry it was, but he said “for a few years now,” according to the mutual aid group, Yarmouth County firefighte­rs have been responding to more forest fires.

“Volunteer firefighte­rs are primarily focused on residentia­l fire protection and the occasional small brush or grass fire,” d’Entremont said. “When the volunteers are called out to fight forest fires, resources end up being spread thin and that creates vulnerabil­ities in fire coverage across the county.”

He sought a commitment from the minister to “properly” resource his department’s firefighti­ng capacity in the Yarmouth area so volunteer firefighte­rs can focus on their primary responsibi­lity.

Said the minister in response, “I want to thank all the firefighte­rs across the province who deliver an outstandin­g service. I’m very impressed with all the work they have been doing and I want to actually remind the members that when we do need more resources, our sister provinces are there to help out as we help and reciprocat­e that service to them.”

 ?? KATHY JOHNSON ?? During a forest fire in the Upper Woods Harbour area of Shelburne County in mid-September, firefighte­rs gathered near the scene along with Lands and Forestry personnel.
KATHY JOHNSON During a forest fire in the Upper Woods Harbour area of Shelburne County in mid-September, firefighte­rs gathered near the scene along with Lands and Forestry personnel.
 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D ?? Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d’Entremont.
CONTRIBUTE­D Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d’Entremont.
 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D ?? Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin.
CONTRIBUTE­D Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada