The Lake Country Fire Department, in collaboration with BC Wildfire Service instructors, hosted a full day training session Saturday, May 4, 2024 to build more capacity in leadership of fire engine apparatus and personnel during Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fire events.
“Engine Boss is a course designed by the Province for wildland urban interface firefighting focussing on the officer roles and responsibilities on the truck and on scene of large fire complexes,” said Lake Country Deputy Fire Chief Kynan O’Rourke. “We are hosting this year with participation from fire departments from the Shuswap, West Kelowna , CSRD, RDCO, BC Wildfire and of course our amazing team here in Lake Country.”
Residents in The Lakes, Moberley, and McCoubrey neighbourhoods noticed the crews and apparatus running various scenario-type drills Saturday.
“The course is designed to provide municipal and regional fire department firefighters the skills and knowledge needed to perform in the position of Engine Boss and meets BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) training requirements related to WUI deployments under inter-agency agreements,” said BCWS Superintendent.
The “Engine Boss” leads a fire engine and attached personnel, reports to a Strike Team Leader Engine, Task Force Leader, and Incident Commander. The course includes an 8-hour online component as well as 8 hours of skills drills and hands-on practice in the field, a written exam and practical evaluation. This one-day field session is comprised of structure engines, water tenders, and wildland engines to make up a typical Task Force or Strike Team, as would be done on an actual deployment. Participants must have pre-requisite qualifications and experience, and are expected to model leadership values and principles; provide positive influence and emphasize teamwork; establish and communicate objectives, prioritise, work assignments, safety zones, escape routes; identify, analyze and use relevant situational information to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions; and adjust actions based on changing information and evolving situation awareness; as well as develop and implement contingency plans.
The engine boss must prepare and mobilize, build and lead the team, perform fireline duties, communicate and coordinate, manage risk, document and demobilize. The hands-on field practice solidifies the tasks and expectations of this important role in keeping communities and firefighters safe during a wildfire incident.
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More information:
Kynan O’Rourke, Deputy Fire Chief
Lake Country Fire Department
250-766-2327
communications@lakecountry.bc.ca
Download the News Release complete with various images of the firefighter training and apparatus
