Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson (middle) has been deployed to Nova Scotia to assist with disaster relief efforts.
Image Credit: TWITTER/PentictonFire
October 04, 2022 - 6:00 AM
Penticton’s fire chief is one of two B.C. firefighters currently lending their skills to recovery efforts on Canada’s east coast following a catastrophic hurricane.
Last month, high winds from “historic” post-tropical storm Fiona knocked out power for thousands of people on the east coast. Recovery efforts are ongoing.
Dave McAllister, director of programs and operations with Team Rubicon, a non-profit agency specializing in disaster relief, said Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson is one of two B.C. firefighters working with utility crews to clear trees from power and telecommunication lines in Nova Scotia.
Watkinson has been posting about his efforts in Nova Scotia through Twitter. On Oct. 2, he posted that he helped a 91-year-old man and his wife gain access to their home.
READ MORE: Fiona fallout: Nova Scotia premier blasts cellphone companies' lack of co-operation
At least 100 other firefighters Canada-wide are a part of the non-profit. Many firefighters joined to help last year following recovery efforts when a wildfire destroyed Lytton and during historic flood events in B.C., McAllister said.
“For some reason, firefighters are particularly attracted to the work we do… the skills they bring to the table are absolutely outstanding for what we do. They know how to use tools and work as part of a team and work really hard until the job is done,” he said.
Volunteers were already on the ground before the storm hit last month. On Friday, Sept. 30, volunteers were able to help reopen the ferry between Nova Scotia and P.E.I.
The last volunteers will depart from the east coast Oct. 16. A total of 53 volunteers are helping there in what has become Team Rubicon’s largest deployment, McAllister said.
More information on Team Rubicon can be found on the non-profit’s website. They are looking for volunteers.
Watkinson declined to comment for this story before his return to Penticton later this week.
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