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Originally posted by Gramps49:
... However, it does seem the people in the United States throw more resources into fighting fires than Canada does. Last year, for instance, I went through Kamloops the day after a thunderstorm went through, I could see several smokes raising around the hillsides from lightning strikes, but I did not see any firefighting response from the highway.
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Lucy Tower, manager of B.C.'s fire equipment depot, told CBCNews.ca Tuesday that the decision was made because the province's firefighters are never put in a situation where they would need to deploy a fire shelter. Much of the terrain where wildfires occur in Canada is also densely forested.
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In general, Canadian wildfire fighters are equipped with the view that firefighters should avoid putting themselves in harm's way to begin with.

For example, there is a national standard for their heat-resistant clothing, which is far lighter than what urban firefighters wear, Mousseau said.

"The intent of the clothing is that if you do get into trouble, it will save you as you are leaving," he says.
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Canadian forest firefighters don't carry breathing equipment such as respirators either. Mousseau said that's partly because of the nature of what is burning. In an urban setting that may include plastics and toxic chemicals, while the fuel tends to be mainly plant matter in a grassland or forest fire.

But it's also because, like fire shelters, special breathing equipment isn't considered necessary.

"Our general consensus is that if you can't breathe, you should leave," he said.
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All wildfire operations are carefully planned and mapped based on where the fire is and is expected to move, and all firefighters are thoroughly briefed in advance and are in constant communication with a command centre, where the weather conditions are monitored and where everyone knows where each firefighter is and should be, New Brunswick's Flinn said.

A key part of every fire operation, he added, is an established escape route to a safety zone, an area nearby that is safe from the fire because of its natural geography, or perhaps because it has already been burnt over.

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Originally posted by Soror Magna:
This is an awesome collection of photos, taken by a friend who lives in Lillooet, about a 2 hour drive from Kamloops: Lillooet - 2009 As you can see, the terrain is very steep and very dry. The huge fire above the town was a deliberate back burn. You can also see drops of fire retardant as well as water.

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Originally posted by Soror Magna:

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Originally posted by Gramps49:
... However, it does seem the people in the United States throw more resources into fighting fires than Canada does. Last year, for instance, I went through Kamloops the day after a thunderstorm went through, I could see several smokes raising around the hillsides from lightning strikes, but I did not see any firefighting response from the highway.
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Terrain and vegetation, less money, and philosophical differences. It's simply not necessary or feasible to put out every wildfire.

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Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
... I think that's why what is happening at Fort McMurray has had such a powerful impact. It is not just that it is one of the largest natural disasters in the country's history - just about everyone I know has some sort of personal connection to people living or working in the area.

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