Community Awareness for Wildfire Preparedness

Gitsegukla is nestled in Kitimat-Stikine B as shown below, and a Fire of Note has been detected across the Skeena near our home. As we know right now, there is no cause for evacuation concerns as there are no alerts from Emergency Management BC. The Tech Coordinator has put together this contact information blog post out of concern for our Community Preparedness. It will be updated as more announcements come in, so please bookmark this page to keep all information in one place.

July 14, 2023: A Statement made by Gitsegukla Band Council will be made into a downloadable PDF at the bottom.

Please follow Gitsegukla First Nation on Facebook and Share this blog post at the bottom of the page!

Come to the band office for help printing out any of the available resource PDFs and planning with our receptionist!

The Province has declared State of Emergency for the Stikine region (pictured below)

Included in this post:

  • Fire of Note – R41397
  • Northwest Fire Centre – Official Resource Links
  • Additional Resources
  • Public Facebook Post to Share

Fire of Note – R41397

What We Know as of: July 12, 2023 10:40 PM
  • Detected: July 12, 2023 @ 12:40 PM (1km North of Gitsegukla near Carnaby)
  • Stage of Control: Out of Control (but rather small at 0.009 Hectares)
  • Suspected Cause: Lightning / Natural
  • Evacuation Orders and Alerts: There are no current evacuation orders or alerts associated with this incident

Official Resource Links for British Columbia

Please share this blog post on Facebook using the Gitsegukla First Nation post at the bottom of the page. While this post is aimed at Gitsegukla Band Members, there are many people who can benefit from this information where all resources currently available are shared as one post!

Northwest Fire Centre – Contact Information
Email: BCWS.NWFCInformationOfficer@gov.bc.ca
Call: 250-876-6844
Follow BC Wildfire Service on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo/

Wildfire Safety Preparedness:

1 – Getting Ready Before A Wildfire

2 – Staying Safe During A Wildfire

3 – Recover After A Wildfire

PreparedBC Fire Safety Guides:

1 – Household Preparedness

2 – Household Emergency Plan

3 – People w/ Disability

4 – Prepare Your Pets

5 – Small Business Resources

Community Centered Resources

1 – Preparedness on a Budget

2 – Make Your Emergency Plan

3 – In Case Of Evacuation

4 – Neighbourhood Preparedness

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Prepare a Grab & Go Bag – Remember to periodically check and update the contents of your grab-and-go bag to ensure everything is in working order, medications are not expired, and supplies are well-stocked.

Visual of grab and go bag from Prepared BC
screenshot from PDF
Simple Checklist for a Grab-and-Go Bag: Full Guide Here

Each house member should have a “grab-and-go”, including your pets!

  • Food & Water – Pack non-perishable, easy-to-store food items that can last for 48 hours, such as energy bars, canned goods, and individually packaged snacks. Also, include enough water for each person and pet.
  • Pen & Notepad – Bring a pen and notepad to jot down important information like emergency contact numbers, addresses, and any essential details you need to remember.
  • Phone Charger & Battery Bank – Include a charger compatible with your phone and a portable battery bank. No Power bank? Charge old laptops and phones beforehand, and keep them off. Your USB will make sure you can use spare electronics for charging.
  • Personal Toiletries – Prescription medications, dental basics (toothbrush, toothpaste), and hygiene products (soap, hand sanitizer, menstrual products). Tailor the contents based on the specific needs of each household member.
  • Seasonal Clothing – Include a change of clothes appropriate for the current season, along with extra shoes and rain-proof clothing. This ensures you have suitable attire for different weather conditions.
  • Flashlight – Bring a flashlight with extra batteries or a rechargeable one to provide light during power outages or low visibility situations.
  • Radio – Pack a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to stay informed about emergency broadcasts, news updates, and instructions from authorities.
  • First Aid Kit – Include a basic first aid kit with essential supplies like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, gauze, adhesive tape, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications. Regularly check and replenish the supplies as needed.
  • Batteries – Pack spare batteries for your flashlight, radio, and other battery-powered devices. Tip: Write all sizes needed in Notepad, that way you can replace as needed!
  • Emergency Plan – Keep a copy of your household emergency plan in the bag, including important information such as meeting points, emergency contacts, evacuation routes, and any specific instructions tailored to your family’s needs.

Start Your Emergency Kit

What to pack in your Grab-And-Go Bag

What’s the difference between an Emergency Kit vs. Grab-and-Go Bag?

Links to Community Facebook Groups

Please message Gitsegukla First Nation if you need to be admitted into the group!

Members of Gitsegukla, British Columbia can share public posts by:

  1. Create a post on your own page and set the status to “Public”; that way people not on your friendslist can still see and share your post
  2. Share your Public post to Gitsegukla, British Columbia and be sure your post informs the group that you’re “Info sharing”
  3. When someone clicks on your post, they will be able to share it or tag their friends on it if you leave comments open

Public Facebook Post to Share As Needed:

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Download PDF
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