By Jill Sperling

First Nations ‘fire watchers’ aid fire fight at Skeetchestn Reserve

Aug 16, 2017 | 4:45 PM

SAVONA, B.C. — The 168,000 hectare Elephant Hill Wildfire burns a mere 4 km from the edge of the Skeetchestn Reserve, an area that was evacuated nearly two weeks ago. 

As approximately 250 residents were asked to leave their homes, hundreds of firefighters were called in to battle the blaze. 

It is an emergency situation like non the Skeetchestn Indian Band has ever had to deal with, with the massive wildfire burning dangerously close to their village. 

“We’ve made a determination that the situation was threatening, and we gave the order for evacuation,” Chief Ron Ignace said. 

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The evacuation order was issued on Aug. 4, and with that most residents packed up and travelled to emergency reception centres in other communities. 

Since then, the road to the village has been closed and patrolled by RCMP officers. 

In this incredibly stressful time, some band members decided to stay back and defend the land that they are so deeply connected with.

“We have an incredible team of approximately 26 people who are dedicated and determined to protect our village and our lands,” Ignace said. “Not only that, but they are backed by a community that not only understands, but fully supports their efforts.” 

The volunteer firefighters have joined around 300 firefighters from across the country, and world, who are staying at a nearby fire camp.

“There are certain local people, and First Nations people in particular that know the territory very well, much better than the guys from B.C., and definitely much better than from Australia and New Zealanders and Quebecers,” said CEO of Skeetchestn Natural Resources Corp, Mike Anderson. “There’s a real role for first nations in this that up until now I don’t believe has ever been explored.”

“It’s true, the Skeetchestn Indian Band members there do have a very intimate local knowledge of that area,” said Fire Information Officer Max Birkner, “and that has helped in our close cooperation with those members in working against the Elephant Hill Wildfire.” 

The team from Skeetchestn have used their diverse range of skills, and knowledge of the land to verify where the front of the fire is, and report back to the Emergency Operations Centre, located just off of the Trans Canada Highway. 

Organization and communication are of the utmost importance at the EOC. 

“I believe that we’re well set up and organized, and as ready for the fire as any community anywhere, and I think Chief Ron and his band members should be proud of the guys that are working on this,” Anderson said.