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KFN Fire Department back in operation

The K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) Fire Department is now considered to be operational after over a decade of basically being out of action.

Fire Chief Doug Lamalice of the K'atlodeeche First Nation Fire Department introduced its newly-arrived fire truck to the community at an open house in September. NNSL file photo

"It means we're trained and we're trained on the truck, and we can go to put a fire out," said Fire Chief Doug Lamalice.

However, Lamalice noted the Hay River Fire Department will still take the lead in fighting fires on the Hay River Reserve.

"As long as we have six people, we'll probably help, as well," he said, explaining that a way to contact firefighters on the reserve is one of the things that still have to be worked out.

For now, he would have to contact each firefighter individually.

The KFN Fire Department has 11 members and most of them have been trained to a defensive level, meaning they can combat a fire from outside a building. More extensive training is required for firefighters to enter a structure.

Lamalice said there also needs to be a system set up so the KFN Fire Department can receive calls from reserve residents.

"Hay River will continue to do their initial hits and carry out what's been going on," he said. "So we're going to stick with that until we have our phones and everything in place because we don't want no mess-ups."

Lamalice noted 24-hour lines are a challenge to maintain.

A way also has to be established to contact the reserve firefighters.

"We have all kinds of sirens, but we need to figure out how we're going to be contacted, whether it's pagers, whether it's cellphones," said Lamalice. "We still have a lot to straighten out in that way."

The fire chief said it would be nice to have those issues resolved by the spring.

"So we're just going to continue training until we have our phones and everything in place," he said.

The training has been provided by the Hay River Fire Department.

Lamalice said he's very thankful to Hay River Fire Chief Ross Potter and his department for that training.

"To me, it's nothing but a win-win when we train with him, because he's trained all the Hay River Fire Department," said Lamalice. "So at the end of the day, if we ever have to go to a fire together we've all been trained by one person, which is pretty awesome."

The latest round of training at the Hay River Fire Hall was in mid-December, after which the KFN Fire Department was considered to be operational.

Potter told the Dec. 19 meeting of town council about the training for the KFN Fire Department.

"So they should be operational now as a first-response fire unit," he said. "So it will make it a lot better for us if we're responding across the way."

Lamalice has been working for about three years on making the KFN Fire Department operational.

"It took a lot of work, and getting people out for training is sometimes really tough, especially when it's all volunteer," he said.

Lamalice explained that having its own fire department means several things for the Hay River Reserve.

"It means we can respond quicker," he said, adding the department can also offer education about fire safety to the community.

Plus, he noted the department may also inspire young people to want to become firefighters.

A big step in the revival of the fire department was in September with the arrival of a functioning fire truck – a used vehicle purchased in Saskatchewan.

The department's old truck was damaged and broken down.

The purchase was funded by KFN with about $135,000 to obtain the fire truck and various pieces of equipment that went with it.