As the snow melted this winter, Nakusp was one of many communities across the Interior to receive support from the B.C. government and Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) for training and equipment to help tackle wildfires in 2025.
The province's $9-million Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for this year supported some 230 volunteer and career B.C. fire departments, which included giving Nakusp & District Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) $40,000 for equipment upgrades.
Earlier in March, the village's FireSmart program and CBT teamed up to provide 13 NVFD members with S-100 and S-185 wildland firefighter cross-training, thanks as well to Doug Harrison of Apex Forest Services who delivered the training.
S-100 covers basic fire suppression and safety, while S-185 focuses more on how firefighters can avoid becoming trapped in wildland fire scenarios. Ahead of another wildfire season, FireSmart and emergency program coordinator Noel Ballard says this kind of proactive programming is helping NVFD prepare more than ever.
"I feel like we're better prepared than we have been in my time," he said.
Though Ballard noted the onslaught of U.S. tariffs will essentially "throw out" NVFD's budget, he listed an impressive arsenal of new gear for his fire crews thanks to the provincial funding, which far exceeds the "turnout gear" of jackets, boots and helmets. The $40,000 is also covering a new firetruck trailer, two large water pumps, four large portable water vessels, and bladder tanks with their necessary attachments.
NVFD enjoys support from 32 volunteers and, though based alongside Upper Arrow Lake, oversees an area spanning out as far as Box Lake along Highway 6. According to Ballard, this includes about one kilometre of overlap with the Regional District of Central Kootenay land.
In addition to receiving in-house training this March, Ballard's department is sending some of its volunteers to the Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit happening in Penticton from April 12 to 16, which is organized by FireSmart BC. Involving NVFD's crews in these kinds of opportunities means that "basically, we've got a trained crew to take out our wildfires," Ballard summarized.
More on the summit is available at firesmartbc.ca/upcoming-wildfire-resiliency-and-training-summit.
NVFD also continues delivering its educational program to Nakusp's schools, which Ballard emphasized as one of the most important ways to promote readiness for the upcoming wildfire season.
"They're engaged and then they take that information home to their parents," he explained, adding that having FireSmart knowledge on the minds of community members more widely is what it will take to maximize preparedness.
More information on B.C.'s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund and recipient fire departments can be found at news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025EMCR0005-000205.
