A full container of firefighting clothing and equipment is being donated to various First Nations communities. (submitted photo/Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management)

By Glenn Hicks

getting into gear

Donated firefighting equipment headed to First Nations

Sep 6, 2019 | 5:02 PM

Several First Nations communities in our region will see major improvements to firefighter safety after the donation of hundreds of pieces of special clothing (known as bumper suits) and related equipment.

The full sea-can of items was just part of a larger offering from the Firefighters Without Borders Canada program that collects and donates used equipment. They also give training around the world and to First Nations. The equipment, along with two pumper trucks that will go to communities in the south of the province, were shown off Thursday by Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management based at the PAGC in Prince Albert.

A donated pumper truck is headed to Key First Nation. (submitted photo/Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management)

“We got into contact with Firefighters Without Borders because they usually send the equipment overseas and we asked them if some of it could be donated to First Nations,“ Pierce Pellerin, the Emergency and Protective Services Officer for Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management told paNOW. “[First Nations] communities are fighting fire with no equipment or personal protective equipment and no fire trucks. So that goes a long way.”

Several firefighters from across the province gathered in P.A. to check out the incoming gear. Pellerin said many local communities would benefit from the abundance of items including Wahpeton Dakota Nation and Sturgeon Lake. Montreal Lake received gear recently. Many other communities throughout the province would be getting some of the donations, according to Pellerin.

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“There’s over 850 sets of firefighter bumper gear, helmets, boots, SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), and various firefighting tools.

Pellerin said they determine who gets the gear based on the completion of fire prevention programming.

“The incentive [for getting the bumper gear] is finishing the programming and we do that so it’s fair to every community to apply and it also promotes fire prevention and education of children and band members,” he said.

Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management is based in P.A. but Pellerin said they help support, train and equip First Nations throughout the province.

This pumper truck will go to the Muscowpetung First Nation (submitted photo/Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management )

Two donated pumper trucks received through the Firefighters Without Borders program are going to the Key First Nation in the south east of the province and to the Muscowpetung First Nation northeast of Regina.

A pickup truck load of firefighting gear will help crews in Ocean Man First Nation do their job more safely. (submitted photo/Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management)

A pick-up truck load of breathing apparatus and other equipment is headed to the Ocean Man First Nation southeast of Regina.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow