News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By Joe Cousins

The Williams Lake Fire Department has recently added some new training equipment to their facility. On Tuesday, the senior firefighters demonstrated the new props while junior firefighters will be practicing with the props in the coming weeks.

In a fenced compound, five training stations have been installed which are plumbed with natural gas from Fortis and will simulate real-time situations firefighters face while doing their job.

"These stations or 'props' will be used for our local firefighters to be able to practice and test for their professional qualifications," said Rob Warnock, Williams Lake Fire Department Training Officer. The props include a car, a propane tank, a burn pan and a large dumpster, plus a fifth station for future use. During a practice, pallets are added to the car, pan or dumpster to ensure the fire is as realistic as possible.

"What the trainers are looking for during these practices is how the guys attack it, making sure the procedure is correct," advised Warnock. During a real fire, the newer trucks have the capabilities to add the foaming agent directly to the water spray with controls right in the cab. The spray used during the practice was just  water, to keep the costs down and prevent unnecessarily putting foam spray into the environment.

Rob Warnock added that when they had their first test burn recently, people were stopping right on Highway 20 to see what all the smoke and flames were about and the firefighters were very concerned that there might be an accident as a result.  "We will be using these props during regular Tuesday evening practices here and would like to request that residents not stop on the highway to watch -- this is very dangerous," concludes Warnock.

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