Rolling River firefighters place 2nd at regionals

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This article was published 29/07/2010 (5573 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Members of the Rolling River First Nation put their firefighting skills to the test earlier this month, coming in second at the 20th Annual Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters Regional Competition.

Rolling River was defeated by the team from Norway House, who will now compete for the national championship title Aug. 21 in British Columbia.

The regional and national competitions pit teams of aboriginal firefighters against each other in a fierce battle to demonstrate their skills by performing real-life firefighting scenarios. In addition to knocking down targets with firefighting hoses, volunteer firefighters display their skills in replacing burst hose length, hose rolling and assembling lengths of hose together as they compete against the clock and each other.

However, the bigger issue for the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters is fire safety.

First Nations in Manitoba are most vulnerable to fires and the consequences are usually tragic. Children under the age of 14 make up one third of the fatalities from fires in First Nations communities in Manitoba. That is nearly twice the national average.

Besides honing the skills of volunteer firefighters from the 15 First Nations communities, fire-safety officials taught children from the communities life-saving lessons.

MANFF secured a home safety trailer that can simulate all the potential hazards one might find around the house. The trailer is complete with a sitting area for about 10 to 12 children where they will see a video on home fire safety. There is also a kitchen area, complete with a stove, microwave and sink, which can point out the dangers of leaving a stove turned on or even leaving a pot handle turned toward the outside.

Daren Mini, emergency management officer, says education is the key to fire safety and prevention and stressed the importance of teaching it for all ages.

"There’s always an opportunity to educate children and make sure they know how to react. From toddlers being able to recognize the signs, to the prevention side for older children where they’re taught to use fire extinguishers and test smoke alarms, we’re always looking to educate them."

The most impressive feature of the trailer is the smoke machine. In a matter of seconds, the bedroom area of the trailer can be filled with non-toxic safe smoke, similar to what is used in a theatre and on movie sets, so that children can learn how to stay low and gain a safe exit from a smoke-filled environment.

One of the greatest challenges for aboriginal firefighters is the use of wood-frame construction on many reserves, which means houses can burn to the ground in a matter of minutes.

Willard Bittern, who has been fighting fires in Poplar River for 12 years, says there is no more helpless feeling than getting to a fire and realizing it’s too late. One of his first-ever calls was to a relative’s house, which was fully engulfed when his truck arrived. They were unable to save a small child trapped inside. Bittern says teaching children about fire prevention is critical.

 

The following is a list of how the First Nations firefighter teams placed in the 20th Annual Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters Regional Competitions:

 

1. Norway House

2. Rolling River

3. Sagkeeng

4. Cross Lake

5. Poplar River

6. Garden Hill

7. Ebb and Flow

8. Northlands (Lac Brochet)

9. Peguis

10. Chemwawin

11. Tataskweyak

12. Wuskwi Siphihk

13. Shamattawa

14. Lake Manitoba

15. Waywayseecappo

 

The Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters was formed as an organization in 1991 and its membership is comprised of and directed by the Manitoba First Nations Fire Chiefs. For more information on MANFF, please visit www.manff.ca

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