The Watson Lake Fire Department
The Watson Lake Fire Department is a dedicated service committed to protecting the lives, property, and environment of the Watson Lake community. Operating with a team of volunteer firefighters, the department responds to fire emergencies, vehicle accidents, and other critical incidents. In addition to emergency response, the department focuses on fire prevention, creating emergency preparedness plans and safety education.
From the Watson Lake Fire Department:
Quarter 3 Department Reports, Town of Watson Lake
3rd Quarter Highlights:
During the third quarter, the Watson Lake Fire Department focused on enhancing community safety through grant-funded projects, recruitment, equipment upgrades, training, and fire prevention activities.
Grant Funding: Secured $30,000 from the FireSmart Program and additional funding from the Climate Preparedness in the North Grant to treat five hectares for wildfire mitigation. This work supports community safety and local employment.
Recruitment: Added six new volunteer firefighters, with plans to recruit four more, strengthening the department's response capacity.
Equipment Upgrades: Acquired 22 Kenwood radios and a Starlink system for improved communication, a Decon Pak for equipment decontamination, and a trailer for efficient transport of tools. Additional equipment, including chainsaws and brush saws, was purchased for wildland-urban interface emergencies.
Training: Conducted fire extinguisher training for town employees, CANUTEC hazardous materials training for 19 participants, and advanced firefighter training to NFPA 1001 Level 1 standards.
Fire Prevention: Hosted Fire Prevention Week activities, including a school visit, a motorcade, and a community contest promoting smoke detector checks.
Community Engagement: Represented at the Yukon Fire Chiefs Conference, where the Fire Chief was elected Vice President of the association, strengthening regional collaboration.
The department responded to 21 calls during the quarter, including medical emergencies, structure fires, and vehicle accidents, while logging over 75 hours of training.
All Quarterly Department Reports
2024 Quarter 1(January-March), 2024 Quarter 2 (April-June), 2024 Quarter 3 (July-September)
In June, the department acquired two Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) trailers equipped with essential gear and equipment for safeguarding communities during wildfire incidents. Each trailer is outfitted with high-capacity pumps, durable hoses, sprinklers, and various tools necessary for deploying water to protect structures in fire-prone areas. These trailers are designed to be quickly mobilized to areas at risk, enhancing the department's ability to respond effectively to wildfires and minimize damage to residential and commercial properties. Additionally, the WUI trailers feature storage compartments for tools and safety gear, ensuring that all necessary resources are readily available for emergency deployment.