Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Area L Director Bruce Rattray is circulating a request for volunteers to assist the volunteer fire departments (VFD) in the community.
The six fire departments located within Area L include the Deka Lake, Lone Butte and Interlakes VFDs, which are administered by the CRD and funded through property taxes.
The 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue is also contracted by the regional district to provide services in the fringe area, he says.
The Watch Lake-North Green Lake VFD and the Sulphurous Lake VFD are administered by non-profit societies and funded through membership fees.
All six of these departments are in need of more volunteers, and Rattray says folks aren’t required to have a capacity for firefighting in order to help their community fire department.
“You can provide valuable services to your local fire department in the areas of fire suppression, fire prevention, first responder services, public education and prevention awareness, equipment maintenance, personnel training, driving and truck operations, administrative duties, fundraising, grant and proposal writing, and more.”
Beyond Area L, other South Cariboo fire departments that typically need volunteers include the 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue and the Forest Grove, Canim Lake, 108 Mile Ranch, Lac la Hache, 70 Mile House and Loon Lake VFDs.
For more information, contact your local fire chief to determine if you can volunteer some time.
Rattray notes anyone over the age of 18 with a few hours to spare each month and would like to become part of keeping their community safe is eligible to join.
This means even those with limitations on their physical abilities, time or other aspects of their life can still provide valuable assistance with some necessary tasks.
