Estevan firefighters have come back from another deployment up north to help deal with wildfires, as another group goes up to keep assisting with the blaze. They're working alongside numerous fire departments from across the province who are helping to keep the current wildfires under control.
Estevan Fire Rescue Firefighter Nolan Lacoste and Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Luc both recently came back from a trip up north and shared their experiences.
"I guess on my part, I wasn't there as long as Nolan was," said Luc. "It's definitely a little bit different when you get up there and you're dealing with forest fires versus grass fires. Things are done a little bit differently when you're dealing with various fire departments, helicopters, lots of large equipment to fight the fires, versus what we do down here."
They've been joined by Lieutenant Justin Herod and Tyler Stead, along with Firefighters Nathan Rae, Austin Dovell, and Colby Wainman, among others, on some of the most recent deployments.
While the members going north have thinned the ranks at EFR, Luc says that they've been able to maintain their capabilities just fine.
Lacoste, a firefighting veteran of 14 years, was up north for 18 days and says working on a large-scale operation is a whole new experience.
"This is the first deployment of this type that I think we've ever done in Estevan, so we really had no idea what to expect or what our expectations should be, but I'd say, for my part as well, it was an amazing experience. Working and interacting with the different departments or the people from Patuanak, it really met or exceeded kind of what I had expected. I'm super happy I was able to go up there and go up there for as long as I did."
Luc, meanwhile, has dealt with larger structure fires, but working on the wildfire was a whole new experience for him as well.
As the crews worked around Patuanak, their duties would change daily, with a number of different requirements for the firefighters.
"There were days we were patrolling in the community, if they thought the fire could make a run. One day, we rolled four kilometres of hose because of the threat of fire coming to burn it all up. There were days we were out there on nozzles, putting out hot spots, putting flames out."
During Lacoste's last six days of deployment, he joined Luc in some more active fire management from time to time.
Both had their own reasons for volunteering to head north, with Luc wanting to work with other firefighters and help the province.
"When we were asked to send guys up there, something different happens when you go up there and you get the chance to work with all these different departments, network with people, see how other departments operate, and help protect our province. It's truly an amazing experience."
"Once you get up there and see the magnitude of these fires, you know, we sit here in Estevan and we see the smoke come through, but you don't really see anything until you're actually up there into the thick of it all."
"For me, it was just an opportunity to have a new experience," said Lacoste, "Something that we don't ever see around here, and also just a chance to do some tangible good for some other people. We know they appreciated us being up there and still are. It was just an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, and I was able to be part of that. So I figured I better take the opportunity while I can."
Both Luc and Lacoste filed similar roles, despite different positions, with Lacoste staying the 18 days as he had the chance to extend his deployment and took the opportunity.
The firefighters also got the opportunity to take a look at other departments and what equipment they were running for this scenario.
Lacoste says that meeting other firefighters from around the province worked well, as they were able to get along.
"What we were doing is kind of so far removed from what kind of situations we'd ever have here. But I thought it was cool to interact with the different departments, and just, firefighters are very similar, no matter where they are based. Everyone we met there, we just wanted to get on and get the job done and have a good time doing it. It felt like, for the most part, we really clicked with the other departments, and we melded very much, meshed very well together with the other guys that were there and made really good connections down the road."
For both Luc and Lacoste, being deployed to another wildfire is an opportunity they'd both take another round after their experiences.
"If the opportunity comes and the SPSA wants to keep us up there, if we have adequate manpower, and we can keep going there, I would be open to it. It was an amazing experience," said Luc, "The people of Patuanak, or English River First Nation, treated us phenomenally there. I would definitely take the opportunity to go back if it came about."
"I'm the same way," said Lacoste. "I'll go back any chance I can get to do that type of thing."
Lacoste then thanked the hospitality and camaraderie of the people who hosted them over the deployment, and he hopes to connect with them in the future.
As of Friday, Firefighter John Wells, Ben Brokenshire, Darson Gunnlaugson, and Colby Wainman (who is on his Second Deployment) have headed north, with the firefighters likely to remain there for the week at minimum.