... But not today! According to the Ministry of Environment, the Venting Index for this morning and afternoon is rated "Poor" which means burning is not allowed.
The Venting Index is a term used in air pollution meteorology. (It is also known as the Ventilation Index.) The Ventiling Index is a numerical value related to the potential of the atmosphere to disperse airborne pollutants, such as smoke from a prescribed fire. It is based on both the current wind speed in the mixed layer and the mixing height. The mixed layer is the surface layer of air that is turbulent and well mixed. The mixing height is the thickness (sometimes zero) of this mixed layer.
If you are in the Comox Fire Protection District and you have a valid burning permit, please remember to call 1-888-281-2992 or check the Venting Index website at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/venting/venting.html before you burn!
Today was an excellent opportunity for our crews to participate in an exercise with 442 sqn (SAR Techs) and 19 Wing Fire Dept. Simulated plane crash with lots of victims, fires and entrapment.
Comox Fire Rescue is welcoming on 9 new members to our team! The new group came out last Sunday to run through our entrance physical and skills exam consisting of the Code-3 Grind, 65' ladder climb, blackout mask challenge, and more. Our future looks bright as we add this great new team to our department! A big thank you to all our members who helped out last Sunday.
Comox Fire Training Centre recently hosted two, one-day structure protection training sessions sponsored by the Office of the Fire Commissioner. The sessions demonstrate to the students non-traditionally techniques used in interface fires to protect structures using small pumps and sprinklers. The idea is to wet down the structures and surrounding areas greatly decreasing the chance of a hot ember igniting them.
The sessions were delivered by Stan Harvey and Gord Schreiner; two of three persons authorized in the province to deliver this training. Over fifty firefighters from sixteen island departments attended these sessions. Equipment used for this tactic is typically carried in a trailer. The province provides a standardized list inventory carried in these trailers. Comox Fire Rescue has had a Structure Protection trailer for about ten years now. Their trailer and team were recently requested by the Office of the Fire Commissioner to assist with structure protection at the Sproat Lake fire.
Comox has trained about 35 of their 50 members in the training required to be deployed by the province with a structure protection trailer. Oyster River has also deployed a Structure Protection trailer and trained many of their members.
Chief Schreiner states: “It is great to see this type of equipment and skills here in the Comox Valley. I hope we never need it but know that if we do it is ready to go. We are also pleased to share this equipment and our skills with our neighbouring departments and we know that they will do the same”
September's meeting night was bittersweet. We presented five rookies with their black helmets; they have been training with us for the last two years and have officially graduated the rigorous Comox Fire training program and are now certified firefighters to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1001 level II.
However, we also had to say goodbye to three loyal and very valuable members of our organization. Lorne Hicks, Christiaan Horsfall, and Craig Skene have left our department for other life pursuits. They were great contributors to Comox Fire, experienced firefighters, and most importantly, good people. They will very much be missed and we wish them the best in all of their future endeavors!
Chief Schreiner states: "These three retiring members leave big shoes to fill and were wonderful examples to our newer members. Not only were they good firefighters but they are all very nice people who really care about their community."
The dinner meeting was a great occasion and family members of our firefighters were invited. As we all know, none of us would be able to commit to this organization if it wasn't for the support and understanding of our spouses/partners/parents/children.
Congratulations to the newly certified firefighters, and best of luck to those moving on to new adventures!
