Crisis CommunicationsCrisis Communications

A Provincial Fire Ranger’s Perspective

A Call to Action The 2009 forest fire fighting support effort to BC is the

longest sustained and largest dispatch ever done by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Almost 1000 individuals from across the Ontario were in BC and in total we provided 21,500 person days of support.

MNR had staff in BC for 67 days starting in June to mid-September

Some 17,000 pieces of forest fire fighting equipment were packaged and transported to BC.

Arrival at Kamloops, British Columbia

Ontario Fire Rangers at Merritt Staging Camp

Lava Canyon Wildfire

Location: In the Brittany Triangle Discovered: Sunday, August 02, 2009

Size: 66,719.0 ha Status: Active

• 100% guarded • 100% contained The fire is 100 percent contained, including the excursion from September 12. The fire is 100 percent controlled.

Where is Lava Canyon?

Lava Canyon

Where is Bull Canyon? Bull Canyon Base Camp

Bull Canyon Base Camp

Ontario Fire Rangers burn-out at Lava Canyon

Lava Canyon smoking!

What’s it like to fight a Wildfire in BC?

Emergency Communications

Being Prepared

Keep a check list of communication equipment, tasks to be performed and who to contact.

Ensure that there are backup systems and alternate staff to maintain the emergency communications functions

Exercise emergency communications functions along with any other emergency exercises that are scheduled.

Who are you trying to reach?

People Outside Area

of ImpactEmergency

Response Staff

People within Area of Impact

BC Public

Ontario Public

Other Provinces

RanchersFirst

Nations

Wildfire Staff

BC Provincial

Staff

Assessing Communications Needs

Assess audiences information needs on a continuing basis during an emergency response

Select a mix of communications initiatives that optimize your efforts to meet needs of audiences

Adjust communications efforts to ensure you are able to sustain your communications commitments throughout the emergency.

Public Meetings

News Releases

FIRE CREWS CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGEDBY LAVA CANYON FIRE

ALEXIS CREEK – With wind and unseasonably high temperatures, fire fighters will be challenged with spot fires and aggressive fire behaviour, as wind directions will likely change unexpectedly throughout the day on the Lava Canyon wildfire. A restricted area order is in effect, under section 11 of the Wildfire Act, for C50418 Lava Canyon wildfire, for the period ending October 15, 2009. For restricted access to the area, permission must be obtained in person, at the Bull Canyon Fire Camp near Alexis Creek, by the Incident Commander Rob Krause. Contact phone number 1-250-483-4121. Resources consist of 287 firefighters, 10 helicopters, 19 pieces of heavy equipment, and 38 support staff. The fire which was at 63,533ha has increased in the last 24 hours by 4 per cent. For updates on fires of note or open burning restrictions, please call 1-888-3FOREST or visit the B.C. Wildfire Management program website at www.bcwildfire.ca.

Local Advisories

LAVA CANYON

WILDFIRES ACTIVITY UPDATE

FIRE DANGER RATING

HIGH

Lava Canyon Fire (Brittany Triangle) C50418

EVACUATION ALERT FOR LAVA CANYON WILDFIRE

Effective immediately, on the recommendation of the Cariboo Fire Centre, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) of the Cariboo Regional District has issued an EVACUATION ALERT as a notification of the POTENTIAL danger which might arise due to the LAVA CANYON WILDFIRE in your area. The reason evacuation alerts are issued is to notify residents of potential for loss of life from unstable WILDFIRE conditions. It would be prudent for residents to prepare to leave this area with short notice. The alert area includes all properties within the following boundary:

North boundary of Highway 20 including Byliff Road. East boundary of the Chiko-Newton Road to the Hwy 20 junction West boundary of the Redstone Forest Service Road to the Hwy

20 junction This alert area DOES NOT include the Redstone first Nations Reserve at this time. For more information on this alert please contact the CRD Emergency Operations Centre at 250-392-4283. This alert may be followed by an order to evacuate which will include more up-to-date information on the condition, and when an evacuation order is issued you must leave your home immediately.

Lava Canyon

Wildfire News

September 13, 2009 1100hrs

For more Provincial Wildfire Information visit… www.bcwildfire.ca

General Fire Information

Fire reported

August 2/09

Cause Lightning Location

Brittany Triangle

Current Open Burning Restrictions and Campfire Bans. Please refer to www.bcwildfire.ca for more information.

TO REPORT A WILDFIRE

CALL 1-800-663-5555

New Media

Fire Fighters in Camp (a captive audience)

Camp News

Lava Canyon’s Emergency Communication Initiatives

Public Meetings Daily News Releases Local Updates/Advisories Telephone hotlines Media Interviews New Media Venues-Twitter, Facebook, Flickr Internal newsletters – Base Camp news

Any Questions?