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Initial attack fire fighters operate as three-person crews and are usually the first on the scene of a new wildfire. Initial attack crews are highly mobile and are often relocated to help fight wildfires throughout the province or elsewhere in North America.
There are more than 330 initial attack fire fighters stationed at approximately 50 bases around the province, strategically placed where fires historically break out.
There are three types of Initial Attack crews in B.C.:
- Helitack crews have access to a helicopter and are trained in hover exit. This method allows them to be deployed in remote locations that are difficult to reach by truck.
- Rapattack crews rappel from a hovering helicopter, using specialized equipment and ropes. Rapattack is especially suited for heavily treed and mountainous, remote terrain.
- Parattack crews respond by parachuting from a fixed wing aircraft in extremely remote locations, typically in the northern part of the Province.
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Hover Exit
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Once fire fighters are at the fire, the crews work quickly to set up water pumps, remove fuel from the fire's path using chainsaws, pulaskis or shovels, and dig fire guards to control or extinguish the blaze. Crews are self-sufficient and can remain on a fire for up to 24 hours without re-supply.
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