Forest firefighters may face bills for room and board

[five_alarm]

EDMONTON, AB - After snuffing out the idea last year, the province has rekindled plans to bill the men and women who fight forest fires $450 a month room and board beginning April 1. And as many as one-third of the seasonal firefighters who turn up annually to defend Alberta's forests could simply tell the Sustainable Resources and Development to stick it, says one such firefighter.

"We had close to a dozen people just quit on the spot last year in Rocky Mountain House over this," said the seasonal fire fighter who talked to the Sun on condition his name not be used.


Source: Edmonton Sun (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/02/22/938511-sun.html&linkid=1489&parent=news(headlines)&)

[five_alarm]

EDMONTON, AB - Some crews hired to battle forest fires will now have to pay room and board at the base camps where they're lodged.

The province has decided to charge the fire crews $300 a month for a bed and $5 a day for food, but the fees will only be applied when the firefighters are in base camp.

Rob Harris, with Sustainable Resources, says they wanted to make it fair for all fire staff, since some live in their home communities during the fire season and have to pay their own way, while others live for free in the camps.


Source: calgary.cbc.ca (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://calgary.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ca-forest-firefighters20050223&linkid=1501&parent=news(headlines)&)

[iamvff]

Gee, thats a lot of forest to just sit and watch burn;) :rolleyes:

Be safe
iamvff

[mutts252]

Gee, thats a lot of forest to just sit and watch burn;) :rolleyes:

Be safe
iamvff

LOL too true! ... i can't imagine what would happen if the ontario MNR tried something quite that stupid... probably a lot of suddenly-empty job positions...

[Whitewater_419]

Ya ever notice that the bone-heads that make these types of decisions have never - ever - once - been on an actual fire scene, with *their* necks on the line ?

I agree with others - this is a really stupid, selfish and insulting policy that is going to result in a lot of hectares of forest going up in smoke.

[five_alarm]

FORT McMURRAY, AB - A local smokeater said lives and property could be at risk because of new government policies. Sustainable resource development (SRD) is now asking forest firefighters to pay for accommodation and rent. That is forcing experienced veterans out and pushing recruits through the ranks faster then ever, says David Morin.

As of April 1 all seasonal, contacted and emergency crews starting getting charged $5 per day or $150 per month for accommodation and $15 a day and $300 a month for food. Whiteside said firefighters have the option to bring their own tents and food if they wish or to stay in nearby homes if they have friends or family in the area.

Source: fortmcmurraytoday.com (http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/story.php?id=167013)

[MFDFF33]

Okay mental note: don't fly my butt to Alta to fight a forest fire, because I have no friends or family out there... I can't believe this... Gotta love Politics...

[Pugfire]

Smart. REALLY SMART!!!!

Hey Mr. Politician,come join those doing the job for a month, if you stick it out, I'll pay your housing/food fee.

Now that's an offer guaranteed NOT to cost me money.

[cdnbacon]

BC has a few bases with camps where you pay to stay there and they are really nice bases. Complete with full time kitchen staff (at least at the Salmon Arm Base).

If there was a camp at my base I would pay to stay there simply for the fact that it would be easier and cheaper then finding my own place.