Web site mobilizes volunteers to fight wildfire in Canada

August 06, 2009 05:53 AM

By Susan Krashinsky
The Globe and Mail

BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada — As fires race through British Columbia’s parched forests, the province’s wildfire management office has been inundated with e-mails, all saying the same thing: “How can I help?”

Now, officials have an answer.

A new page on the B.C. wildfires website went live yesterday, which will help co-ordinate people who want to contribute.

“If someone has some services that we can put to use, then that’s great, and we want to hear from them,” said fire information officer Alyson Couch. “People now have a place where they can go and give us their information.”

The “Resource Offer” form can be found at http://bcwildfire.ca/hprscripts/jobs/offer.asp. Individuals who are certified as firefighters or equipment operators are most sought after, Ms. Couch said, as well as forestry workers and anyone else with skills or certifications allowing them to help the crews.

“If somebody can help out with patrolling or with mop-up activities, where the risk isn’t as high, we can put them there,” she said, adding they will be especially careful not to place volunteers in any situations they are not prepared to handle.

Residents have been very forthcoming with help, offering to provide accommodations, food and blankets to evacuees, said Bruce Smith, a spokesperson for the emergency operations centre in Kelowna.

These centres across the province have a good number of permanent volunteers who are trained in emergency services, he said, meaning many centres do not have need for volunteers. When people do offer to accommodate evacuees, the operation centres and emergency social services can help to co-ordinate that.

Volunteers can also offer to help through the Canadian Red Cross, by calling their regional office. Those numbers can be found at www.redcross.ca. Volunteers are especially needed in Vancouver, where the agency is running a call centre on behalf of the province to give information about fires across the province; in Kelowna, where the Red Cross has set up a recovery centre; and other areas where centres may be established.

“If you’re living in Kamloops, come on down,” said Celine Calfa, a Red Cross representative there.

The agency is also asking for financial donations. People can give at the website or by phone, and should specify they are donating to the B.C. fire fund.