Volunteer Opportunity – Board Position

by | Feb 14, 2026 | Uncategorized

The CERS board is looking for a volunteer to coordinate the Neighborhood Pods in Electoral Area E.

This position involves coordination of community members, updating contact information of Pod Leaders, and active participation on the CERS Board of Directors.

If you are interested, please send us an email!

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

by | May 31, 2024 | Uncategorized

The CERS board knows that there are many folks in our community who are looking to get involved with the work of keeping our lands safe.

We’ve got a couple of volunteer opportunities to support local volunteers who are on the front lines fighting fires.  These opportunities are for people who may not be willing or able to attend the fire sites.

One group is to provide food & water to teams. We’ve approached Alain Vitela-Campos to ask him to organize and create a team of folks who are willing and able to help with the refreshments in this capacity.

The other is to restock the trailers in between emergencies. We’ve also approached Al Armbruster to ask him to create and organize a restocking crew.

If you are interested in joining one of these teams, please contact Al or Alain – Here are letters with their contact information.

Alain – Food and Refreshments

Al – trailer restocking

Expert Task Force on Emergencies – Recommendations

Expert Task Force on Emergencies – Recommendations

by | Apr 4, 2024 | Uncategorized

The recommendations from the Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies is out. Some key recommendations include:
  • The Task Force recommended all emergency management partners recognize the value of and apply local and Indigenous knowledge, and develop clear and consistent guidance for incorporating it into operational wildfire and emergency management decision-making.
  • The Task Force recommended defining clear pathways for organized and trained local people to play a role in wildfire preparedness and response, based on consistent safety, pre-season training and readiness standards and plans, and integration into the BC Wildfire Service or local emergency management structure with appropriate coordination, accountability and oversight.
  • The Task Force recommended taking a laddered approach that matches opportunities with local capabilities and allows communities to build their capacity over time. Initial opportunities should focus on strengthening and empowering local expertise and leadership for preparedness, FireSmart, mitigation and recovery activities, such as prescribed burning and evacuation readiness.
  • The Task Force recommended government develop guidance to improve the clarity, consistency and accessibility of the roles, processes and procedures for partnership-based wildfire response for all emergency management partners so that everyone has a clear understanding of how they can contribute effectively. These guidelines should evolve into joint annual operational planning among partners as a longer-term strategy.
  • The Task Force recommended clarifying, streamlining and strengthening guidance, roles and responsibilities for initial response for newly detected fires based on a “nearest qualified crew” principle, supported by proactive communication and coordination.
  • The Task Force recommended government collaborate with local authorities and First Nations to improve the consistency of guidance and strengthen coordination processes for residents who may require access to areas under evacuation order.
Click the link for the entire summary:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/reports/premiers_task_force_on_emergencies_report-april2024.pdf
EDMA – CERS board submission

EDMA – CERS board submission

by | Jan 24, 2024 | Uncategorized

CERS hosted a meeting at Grassy Plains school on Jan 18th, that was attended by more than 140 community members.  The CERS board of directors heard loud and clear from residents concerned about the creation of regulations that will support EDMA.   The fire season is less then 3 months away, and CERS will continue to engage with local government and BCWS staff and the community to get clarification around these regulations.

2024-01-24-CERS response to EDMA-FINAL

 

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EDMA – Taking Action

EDMA – Taking Action

by | Jan 14, 2024 | Uncategorized

The Emergency & Disaster Management Act became law on November 8, 2023.

Concerned community members who wish to provide input into the creation of the regulations and policies around this act have until January 31, 2024 to submit their feed back.,

If you are wanting to submit feedback, but unsure of where to start, here are some suggestions and links to further information.

1.Become informed

  • Read the media release put about by CERS on January 3, 2024 –Click here
  • And/or read the agenda from the December 14, 2023 RDBN board meeting (pg 106-128) – Click here
  • You can also read all 124 pages of the Act – Click here

2.Submit a letter of concern (hand written or typed)