Image Credit: CFJC Today
CLEARWATER INITIAL ATTACK CREW

Training underway for Clearwater Fire Department Initial Attack Crew’s first season of wildfire response

Jun 19, 2025 | 5:08 PM

CLEARWATER — The Clearwater Fire Department has taken a big step towards expanding its fire response as it added a wildfire Initial Attack Crew to cover the District and the surrounding region.

“We just decided to take the initiative and have the equipment and the extra folks to bolster our resources that we have here so we’re not depleting what we have in town,” Clearwater Fire Chief, Mike Smith, told CFJC Today Thursday (June 19).

The move comes several years after BC Wildfire Service Initial Attack Crews were pulled from Clearwater. The District had repeatedly asked for those resources to return but after another ‘no’ from the provincial government, it opted to form its own, municipally-led crew out of the existing fire department.

“I think it’s very necessary and so does the rest of the fire department,” Smith said. “They were all on board with doing something and then we got buy-in from the rest of management in the district, as well as council, they were right behind us.”

While scenic views and proximity to nature are key characteristics of Clearwater, its also why the community felt it was crucial to have an initial attack crew stationed locally to quickly respond to wildfires.

“We just want to be prepared and do what we can in our area here for protection,” added Clearwater Fire Captain Chance Breckenridge, who is also the District’s FireSmart Coordinator.

“With the FireSmart program in place and getting people thinking about FireSmarting around their homes and then having this as a supplement gives us peace of mind for ourselves too, that if we see smoke we can look to see if we can be tasked out by BC Wildfire to go hit it if they’re busy.”

Eight additional firefighters were brought on, and training is set to be completed by the end of this month. At Thursday’s training session, the Clearwater’s Initial Attack Team received input and tips from the nearby Simpcw Indigenous Initial Attack Team’, which has years of experience.

The Clearwater Fire Department was able to buy another truck from California for its team to use, while the District covered the rest of their start-up costs – just under $300,000 – using the Wells Grays Community Forest Fund.

“It’s great. I know BC Wildfire, they have lots of amazing crew and they get so busy so fast, so we’re just a tool for our local toolbox so to speak, so we can be called upon if necessary,” added Breckenridge.