By Sheila Stevenson
Fire chief Stan Bobb will not forget May 6th anytime soon.
On that day, a grass-and bush-fire swept towards 17 homes on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation.
The smoke from the fires could be seen from three reserves and as far away as Yorkton, some 86 km north.
Bobb and his fire crew spurred into action. They were joined by the RCMP, the Whitewood Fire Department and community members through a 9-1-1 text system.
The fire fighters lost one house that day but they were able to save 16.
No human life was lost during the fire ban, prolonged drought and extreme fire hazard conditions.
“Safety of persons, personnel and lands are our number one priority,” and the house that was destroyed has been “more than an event,” said Bobb.
“It has impacted the (entire) community.’ He said
On May 8th, Kahkewistahaw Chief and Council held an appreciation supper with the community, also honouring the Cowessess Fire Department.’
In the past 12 months, several fires have hit the reserves. Kahkewistahaw five, Cowessess four, and Ochapawace three (two in 2018.) And each could have been far worse.
Chief Cadmus Delorme of Cowessess speaks of a positive relationship between the bands, and quarterly meetings of the Crooked Lake Agency (Sakimay, Cowessess, Kahkewistahaw and Ochapowace.) Cowessess hosts an Elders’ Forum for reserves scheduled in the first half of June where fire issues will be discussed.
Of a pilot project on Cowessess Delorme says, members can sign out one of four lawn mowers available and take responsibility to reduce the danger posed by long grass. The project is to be evaluated October 2018.
“In our upcoming Elders’ Gathering we hope to bring up fire concerns and get feedback on how we can work together in ensuring the safety of members of the four reserves,” says Shelley Bear, Headwoman on Ochapawace whose team also assisted during the crisis.
Ochapowace is “training their firefighting team through TGD Training Consultant Tobey Desnomie, CEO of Saskatchewan First Nation Safety Association,” says Bear. Training is on using heavy equipment, a 500 gallon pumper truck, breathing apparatus and blowers (like leaf blowers) to drive back grass fires.
Kahkewistahaw held a workshop with Elders, RCMP and people who experienced the fires. Attended by youth aged 14-18 will start to think about fire-fighting training and a career as a firefighter.