‘It’s very eye-opening’: Vancouver firefighters return following wildfire season

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As cooler, wetter conditions help fire crews across B.C., volunteer firefighters from the Lower Mainland have finally returned home. This includes Vancouver Fire Captain Randy Dubbert who volunteered to spend a number of weeks in the Interior helping the wildfire fighting efforts.

Dubbert says that even though Vancouver fire crews didn’t have a lot of experience with wildfires, that didn’t stop them from volunteering.

“It’s very different, very much apples and oranges. We’re structural, this is fire in the forests,” he says.

RELATED: Fire departments across the Lower Mainland called in to help fight wildfires across B.C.

Vancouver crews were able to use their expertise protecting buildings and homes in the interior, he notes.

It was Dubbert’s first experience fighting wildfires and says it was an eye-opening experience for himself and his team.

“I think everybody came away with just an appreciation and understanding for the crews that are actually there working on the fire lines and what they’re able to do in the frontlines,” he says. “It’s very eye-opening and you’re a little bit humbled with seeing how hard some of these people work.”

WATCH: Wildfires prompt state of emergency in B.C.

Dubbert and his team were deployed to Fort St. James in August, noting the firefighting efforts required everyone to step in.

“To see how big of a process it is when there’re active wildland fires, it really is a huge, huge scope and there are so many resources tied into it.”

RELATED: Vancouver fire sending additional crews to help with raging wildfires

If given the opportunity he said he would definitely volunteer again.

Even though the state of emergency has been called off, there are still more than 450 wildfires around B.C.

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today