While BC Wildfire Service internal memos have described the Salmon Arm Rapattack base amenities and treatment as elitism, the man who introduced Rapattack to the province titles it teamwork.
On Jim Dunlop91裸聊视频檚 wall hang two plaques presented to him by the BC Forest Service when he retired.
One reads: 91裸聊视频淚n appreciation of your wisdom and dedication to the development and growth of the Rapattack program. From all Rap personnel 91裸聊视频� past, present and future.91裸聊视频�
A second plaque states: 91裸聊视频淚n recognition and appreciation of over 37 years of service. Total fires: 101,248.91裸聊视频�
When Dunlop read the June 9 article on changes to the Rapattack base in Salmon Arm, which arose from internal memos and notes from the BC Wildfire Service, he felt compelled to speak.
BCWS removed the catering services from the base in January of this year and, on Jan. 1 next year, will be removing accommodation. Crews will have to find their own living arrangements.
The documents, from a Freedom of Information request, reflect the view that consistency is the driving force behind the changes, not firefighting efficiencies or significant monetary benefits.
91裸聊视频淏CWS continues to make significant efforts to eliminate inconsistencies in all aspects of staff91裸聊视频檚 working environment91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� states an internal document.
Under 91裸聊视频楧iscussion:91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淓litism and special treatment have combined to create a barrier between rappel crews and other firefighting crews and staff around the province. Breaking down this barrier by treating Salmon Arm staff in the same ways as the rest of the province will contribute to the larger FLNRO team culture.91裸聊视频�
This makes no sense to Dunlop, who was instrumental in the creation of the program and lived at the Salmon Arm base for several fire seasons.
91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 grasp the rationale. They seem to say it91裸聊视频檚 unfair to the other crews who don91裸聊视频檛 have those services. There91裸聊视频檚 a certain amount of truth in that. When I was director, you would normally try to correct those inequities. But you wouldn91裸聊视频檛 do it by taking people down, you91裸聊视频檇 do it by building people up.91裸聊视频�
No one from BCWS was available to speak to the Observer, but a communications employee pointed to a letter to the editor sent to the newspaper the previous week by Madeline Maley, executive director of the wildfire service.
She stated: 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频91裸聊视频檇 like to clarify for your readers that the BC Wildfire Service is not closing the Salmon Arm wildfire base. I91裸聊视频檇 also like to clarify that while the base does offer Rapatttack training, other firefighting crews are also stationed there91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Referring to the removal of catering and accommodation services, Maley continued: 91裸聊视频淐atering and accommodation services were first offered in the 1970s when Salmon Arm was considered a more remote location than it is now. That is no longer the case and suitable rental units and food options are available in Salmon Arm and surrounding areas91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
She concluded: 91裸聊视频淭he decision to phase out accommodation and catering services at the Salmon Arm base was the result of a comprehensive review and will not affect our wildfire response capability91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Most of Dunlop91裸聊视频檚 career was on the ground, on the front line fighting fires. He rose up through the ranks to eventually become Director of Provincial Forest Protection in Victoria. He was also a forest fire consultant for the United Nations and several countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.
He explains that Rapattack was born in 1977 in the tiny community of Lower Post on the Alaska Highway.
A fire in that area became well-established because a crew had to make a long and difficult climb to reach it. Then a 91裸聊视频榖low up91裸聊视频� occurred just as the crew arrived on site. To evacuate, they had to wade into a nearby swamp and struggle onto a helicopter as it hovered with its skids just touching the water.
The primary reason for creating Rapattack was crew safety, Dunlop explains, with a spinoff value being a significant reduction in firefighting costs.
In the 1980s the Rapattack crew moved from Lower Post to Salmon Arm.
91裸聊视频淲hat91裸聊视频檚 there now, I had it built,91裸聊视频� he says of the Salmon Arm base. 91裸聊视频淏ut we lived first in tents and a kitchen trailer. The crew was proving to be really, really useful91裸聊视频� Districts would call in for a rappel crew; they didn91裸聊视频檛 want to send crews in walking because of danger.91裸聊视频�
A 60-foot training tower was built, and then a kitchen and locker room.
He says the small cabins were built after he left.
Dunlop emphasizes that Rapattack crews go all over the province and time is of the essence.
91裸聊视频淎ny initial attack on the fire, but especially Rapattack going to inaccessible fires, you need to be able to respond quickly. I can91裸聊视频檛 imagine people spread out all over downtown, or maybe far away, having them respond. I think what the current management is calling elitism, I call team work. If you want a crew to learn to work together, to pull together, have one common goal and to be effective91裸聊视频�, you have them all live together.91裸聊视频�
He said, instead of cutting catering in Salmon Arm, why not ask for contractors and set up catering at all the camps around the province. The crews would then pay for room and board and it would cost the government nothing.
91裸聊视频淚t seems a logical way to go, rather than taking something away from somebody.91裸聊视频�
He says he doesn91裸聊视频檛 understand what the forest service is doing.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 like to criticize them, but I91裸聊视频檓 not afraid to,91裸聊视频� he said, noting if there are problems with personnel, they need to be properly managed.
If he had a crew that was acting like 91裸聊视频渂ig shots,91裸聊视频� he would give them push-ups, military-style.
91裸聊视频淣obody objected to that, they all thought it was part of it.91裸聊视频�
He said he suspects that the people making the major decisions have not had fire experience, noting it must be understood how decisions are going to affect the firefighters breathing the smoke.
If management doesn91裸聊视频檛 have fire experience, then they need direct access to someone who does.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like appointing a dentist or a PhD to be chief pilot of the airline. They just don91裸聊视频檛 have the experience.91裸聊视频�
Dunlop doesn91裸聊视频檛 understand the talk about elitism.
91裸聊视频淟ook up the definition. It91裸聊视频檚 somebody that91裸聊视频檚 super trained, highly motivated, producing great results. Why worry about the elitism of Rap crews? The three-person initial attack crew, they91裸聊视频檙e elite too, they91裸聊视频檙e physically fit. I just don91裸聊视频檛 get it.91裸聊视频�
He wonders what91裸聊视频檚 next 91裸聊视频� will police tactical response teams and other highly trained teams be at risk of cuts?
Both Salmon Arm Mayor Nancy Cooper and Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo have expressed concern at the removal of catering and the planned removal of accommodation at the base. Cooper pointed out that the vacancy rate is essentially zero and the crew won91裸聊视频檛 be able to find rentals.
