For Immediate Release
May 5, 2016
TOTAL FIRE BAN: BEARDY’S & OKEMASIS FIRST NATION
Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation, Treaty 6 – A total fire ban has been instituted on the Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation according to the community’s Fire Chief, Leon Gamble: “our actions affect our neighbours with sometimes deadly consequences. As such, we will respect and adhere to the provincial fire ban – a total fire ban is now in effect for our community.”
The provincial fire danger level is listed as “extreme” (red) for the area.
“Dry, windy conditions have made for the perfect storm” explains Brenda Seesequasis, the Emergency Response Coordinator for the Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation. “We have had 2 situations where wildfires started and created very hazardous situations for Band members – we must work to ensure that those same situations do not occur again. A total fire ban will help achieve that.”
A total fire ban means that no fires are permitted on-reserve.
“We will re-assess the ban as conditions improve but until then, we expect that Band members will respect the measures we’ve put in place to prevent emergency situations” concluded Seesequasis.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Chief & Council Communications
306.467.4523
communications@beardysband.com