The Dunster Community Forest is heading the initiative to develop a Dunster Wildfire Emergency Response Plan and to secure mobile fire fighting equipment. In early May 2024, twelve Dunster locals partook in the S100 and S185 basic fire suppression and entrapment avoidance training courses that was provided by the BC Wildfire Service & Fraser Basin Council.

Those of us that attended the training felt the need to revitalize the Dunster Fire Station #1 and update the Dunster Emergency Contact list to serve as a resource for notifying locals of potential wildfires in the immediate area and for mobilizing people with skills and equipment until BC Wildfire Services arrives. This information will also be extremely helpful to BC Wildfire Services during an event. To get a sense of what is possible, please check out this group in Northern BC: Chinook Emergency Response Society (https://chinook-ers.ca/). The DCF is also looking into funding options for the purchase of firefighting equipment similar to the Chinook-ers (trailer, tank, pumps, hoses, etc.), where we hope to have at least 1 unit assembled this year.

To get this initiative going, we need the support of community members by filling out the Resident Information Sheet. It can be either dropped off at the DCF Office located at the Dunster Schoolhouse (Mon-Wed 10 am to 4 pm) or emailed to admin<at>dunstercommunityforest.ca. This information will be kept securely at the Dunster Community Forest Office and only shared during an emergency with other community members and first responders. 

If you have any questions or would like to participate in any stages of putting together a plan, please contact us.

Remember during a disaster your neighbours will be your most reliable and immediate source of help, until assistance from first responders arrives. By working with neighbours, it allows you to build up your own resilience through resource and skills sharing.

Resident Information Sheet (pdf)