Take the time to watch the rest: Part 2. Part 3.
Mudge Island, in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia has 60 or so year-round residents and a summer population of about 200. It has no recognized, legally authorized fire protection, but it does have a couple fire trucks.
The arrival of Mudge Island's newest rig. Click the image to see the fleet.
The video above shows a live burn training exercise, apparently familiarizing the citizens with the equipment. It is worth watching all three parts. Their goal is to keep fires from spreading. There is little you would recognize as standard PPE being used.
Here are excerpts from a website by the Mudge Island Citizens Society:
As a community we will attempt to keep fires from spreading and causing more damage. Our society does our best to maintain the trucks that haul and pump the small amounts of water they contain: but has no authority, jurisdiction, formal training, real knowledge, and perhaps most importantly NO LIABILITY INSURANCE concerning fire fighting or fire protection. In other words those covering your personal house insurance can refuse to pay claims for the above reasons and in all likelihood sue all and any inexperienced people for trying to save a structure.
I feel it is necessary to drive it home that we are not a fire department; fire hall; volunteer fire fighters; or fire fighters of any kind. We, along with you, are good neighbours doing what we can to keep fire damage as minimal as possible as we can on the island.
Below is a video from last September showing residents how to operate Mudge Island’s “new” fire truck.
Also on STATter911 …
- Here’s Johnny! FDNY & Johnny Carson. – October 18, 2011
- Race or space? Details on a confrontation at FDNY candidates’ tutoring workshop put on by Vulcan Society. – March 1, 2012
- Fireground audio: Mayday at Norwich, Connecticut house fire. Firefighter goes through floor & becomes trapped. Similar problem for two who try to make the rescue. – April 15, 2011
- Hempfield Township, PA supervisors order firefighters to limit salvage operations. Workers comp claims cited. – September 27, 2011
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I hate to admit it, but these 10 or so guys with their 1-1/8″ hoselines and pickup truck fire engines, are more organized then quite a few of the departments I’ve come across at times. No running around, no one yelling or freelancing on the scene, congratulations guys, you are a fire department….
First fire deparment or not 2 trucks with about 750 gal total should have put that fire out even berfore it took hold of the structure, lets not decide to put it out when theres nothing standing and theres no hope of knocking it down with 750gal. 2nd if your not going to use your water don’t play sprinkler with your hose it’s not going to help or do anything. I am now stupider for watching these video’s. But all in all I guess your stuck with what yo have to work with an i’m not talking about the truck an equipment.
anonymous: the purpose of the exercise was to teach the men how to use the equipment. they set the fire, and let it get going before starting – they were not trying to put it out. they wanted to be sure that each had a chance to practice.
context, buddy.
Interesting, sort of what it was like in this country when more citizens took their protection and that of their neighbors as their responsibility rather than that of government!
Dave,Maybe PG County could put a similar video out for their residents… eh?
Reminds me of the Red Green show on PBS!
First fire deparment or not 2 trucks with about 750 gal total should have put that fire out even berfore it took hold of the structure
Sure, if they were onscene when it happened. And had gear. Neither of which is likely to happen.
They know that by the time the equipment arrives, the home is lost. Their goal is to prevent further loss to exposures (like cars), which it looks like they could probably manage.
give these guys credit for trying, maybe some firefighters from the mainland could offer some assistance in basic training,equipment and how not to get killed.
To HoChiMan Sorry I missed you in Nam!!
This outfit needs to contact ARA SAFETY.COM I belive they could assist them.
HoChiMan has nothing to do with being Vietnamese, it’s an inside joke (you certainly wouldn’t understand). I’m as Red blooded American as you.
Sorry if I’ve offended you with my personal opinion. Don’t have much love for the PGFD ,I see them going in the wrong direction too often, my opinion and ya can’t change it, for that I am not sorry.
As I saw it, the objective of the training was to contain an uncontrolled fire and prevent extension to the outside. I think they showed they could accomplish that…with that small a fire. Perhaps further sessions will educate them on larger, more difficult fires. All in all, I think they did ok. Obviously not a paid, well-trained department, but rather a group of concerned citizens doing the best they can with what they have. More people should care so much!
Folks out there do this to have a chance at slowing the spread to the surrounding bush and to give the Forest Service a chance to get there and do their thing. Buildings can be replaced but the trees will take lifetimes to replace. All paid for by the locals, not taxes. There are some trained and experienced people out there but its come-as-you-are and do your best.