Lil’wat Nation’s volunteer fire department will receive two new fire trucks this summer. The fire trucks will “enhance the firefighting capabilities and help the team serve the community better,” the Lil’wat Nation said in a statement on Facebook.
The fire department is made up entirely of volunteers from Lil’wat Nation. One big hurdle is the fact many firefighters have to hold down full-time jobs in other sectors.
Community members were delighted to hear the good news. The need for the new trucks is evident after B.C. recorded the worst wildfire season on record in 2023.
Challenges local fire crews face were highlighted in Pemberton Fire Rescue’s 2023 Third Quarter Report.
The Village of Pemberton had the highest number of incidents in the crew’s jurisdiction, accounting for 38 per cent of all incidents. Lil’wat Nation came closely second at 34 per cent. The regional district accounted for 17 per cent, and the broader fire district came in at 11 per cent.
In both the VOP and Lil’wat Nation, the highest number of incidents were related to medical aid. The callouts for medical aid accounted for 37 per cent of the total number of incidents.
