Fredericton Firefighters Train to Protect Homes from Wildfires

The Fredericton Fire Department held a training session last week to prepare firefighters for defending homes during wildfires. The session took place in a neighbourhood just north of Killarney Lake. Firefighters learned techniques for responding in the wildland interface where properties must be triaged and water sources are often unavailable.

The training is part of a national program offered by the International Association of Firefighters.

The program has trained 350 Canadian firefighters in 2023 and 2024. Federal government funding supported the sessions, with additional money provided in 2024 to expand participation. The association states that wildfires now threaten communities across Canada as development expands into previously unoccupied land.

It describes the transition zone between rural and developed areas as growing rapidly and increasing risks to property and lives.

The Lakeside Estates subdivision where the training occurred was annexed by the City of Fredericton in 2023. The city gained about 4,500 residents through this and similar annexations. A platoon captain said homeowners should maintain a 30-metre cleared zone around homes and remove nearby combustible materials.

The captain noted that moisture levels in wooded areas are currently low for this time of year and that more rain is needed.