A newly trained cadre of instructors is prepared to teach fire fighters in Eastern Canada how to protect structures from wildfire, following a four-day IAFF event held in Fredericton, N.B. in early December.
The course was the latest instalment of the IAFF’s Responding to the Interface (RTI) training, funded by the Government of Canada under an extended agreement announced earlier this year.
Twenty-three IAFF members were trained as instructors during the course, which included classroom and field exercises. The participants were from Montreal, QC Local 125; Shawinigan, QC Local 5209; Halifax, NS Local 268, Sydney, NS Local 2779; Charlottetown, PEI Local 5219; and five New Brunswick affiliates: Fredericton Local 1053, Saint John Local 771, Tracadie Local 5428, Miramichi Local 5087, Riverview Local 2549 and Moncton Local 999.
With the threat of wildfire increasing due to climate change and urban sprawl, the IAFF has prioritized bringing the RTI program to Canada to make fire fighters and the communities they serve safer while helping the Canadian Government meet its emergency preparedness obligations.
Developed in the U.S., the IAFF RTI program trains fire fighters to safely and effectively protect structures in the so-called wildland urban interface, which are at risk when fast-moving wildfires reach populated areas.
Canadian RTI training was launched in western Canada in late 2023 as a pilot project with $400,000 in federal government funding, an amount which was doubled to $800,000 in April, as announced by Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson before IAFF leaders and delegates at the 31st Canadian Legislative Conference in Ottawa.
15th District Vice President Chris Ross said he was proud of the successful completion of the inaugural train-the-trainer class for Quebec and Atlantic trainers, noting the IAFF is focused on building a network of skilled instructors who can then share their vital knowledge throughout their departments and across Canada.
As development continues to blur the lines between urban and wildland areas, and with climate change fueling more intense fire seasons, our municipal fire fighters are increasingly on the frontlines of these complex incidents.
15th District Vice President Chris Ross
“As development continues to blur the lines between urban and wildland areas, and with climate change fueling more intense fire seasons, our municipal fire fighters are increasingly on the frontlines of these complex incidents,” said Ross . “This training ensures they have the knowledge and preparation to protect themselves and our communities.”
Recently, the federal government accepted a full proposal from the IAFF, which will see an additional $500,000 to conduct RTI training in the two subsequent financial years, carrying it through to March 2027.
Previous RTI train-the-trainer courses and regular RTI training courses funded by the Government of Canada have taken place in Kamloops and Chilliwack, B.C., Grande Prairie, Alta. and Ottawa, Ont.
