While BC Wildfire Service internal memos have described the Salmon Arm Rapattack base amenities and treatment as elitism, the man who introduced Rapattack to the province titles it teamwork.

On Jim Dunlop香蕉视频直播檚 wall hang two plaques presented to him by the BC Forest Service when he retired.

One reads: 香蕉视频直播淚n appreciation of your wisdom and dedication to the development and growth of the Rapattack program. From all Rap personnel 香蕉视频直播� past, present and future.香蕉视频直播�

A second plaque states: 香蕉视频直播淚n recognition and appreciation of over 37 years of service. Total fires: 101,248.香蕉视频直播�

When Dunlop read the June 9 article on changes to the Rapattack base in Salmon Arm, which arose from internal memos and notes from the BC Wildfire Service, he felt compelled to speak.

BCWS removed the catering services from the base in January of this year and, on Jan. 1 next year, will be removing accommodation. Crews will have to find their own living arrangements.

The documents, from a Freedom of Information request, reflect the view that consistency is the driving force behind the changes, not firefighting efficiencies or significant monetary benefits.

香蕉视频直播淏CWS continues to make significant efforts to eliminate inconsistencies in all aspects of staff香蕉视频直播檚 working environment香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈�� states an internal document.

Under 香蕉视频直播楧iscussion:香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淓litism and special treatment have combined to create a barrier between rappel crews and other firefighting crews and staff around the province. Breaking down this barrier by treating Salmon Arm staff in the same ways as the rest of the province will contribute to the larger FLNRO team culture.香蕉视频直播�

This makes no sense to Dunlop, who was instrumental in the creation of the program and lived at the Salmon Arm base for several fire seasons.

香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 grasp the rationale. They seem to say it香蕉视频直播檚 unfair to the other crews who don香蕉视频直播檛 have those services. There香蕉视频直播檚 a certain amount of truth in that. When I was director, you would normally try to correct those inequities. But you wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 do it by taking people down, you香蕉视频直播檇 do it by building people up.香蕉视频直播�

No one from BCWS was available to speak to the Observer, but a communications employee pointed to a letter to the editor sent to the newspaper the previous week by Madeline Maley, executive director of the wildfire service.

She stated: 香蕉视频直播溝憬妒悠抵辈ウI香蕉视频直播檇 like to clarify for your readers that the BC Wildfire Service is not closing the Salmon Arm wildfire base. I香蕉视频直播檇 also like to clarify that while the base does offer Rapatttack training, other firefighting crews are also stationed there香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

Referring to the removal of catering and accommodation services, Maley continued: 香蕉视频直播淐atering and accommodation services were first offered in the 1970s when Salmon Arm was considered a more remote location than it is now. That is no longer the case and suitable rental units and food options are available in Salmon Arm and surrounding areas香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

She concluded: 香蕉视频直播淭he decision to phase out accommodation and catering services at the Salmon Arm base was the result of a comprehensive review and will not affect our wildfire response capability香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

Most of Dunlop香蕉视频直播檚 career was on the ground, on the front line fighting fires. He rose up through the ranks to eventually become Director of Provincial Forest Protection in Victoria. He was also a forest fire consultant for the United Nations and several countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.

He explains that Rapattack was born in 1977 in the tiny community of Lower Post on the Alaska Highway.

A fire in that area became well-established because a crew had to make a long and difficult climb to reach it. Then a 香蕉视频直播榖low up香蕉视频直播� occurred just as the crew arrived on site. To evacuate, they had to wade into a nearby swamp and struggle onto a helicopter as it hovered with its skids just touching the water.

The primary reason for creating Rapattack was crew safety, Dunlop explains, with a spinoff value being a significant reduction in firefighting costs.

In the 1980s the Rapattack crew moved from Lower Post to Salmon Arm.

香蕉视频直播淲hat香蕉视频直播檚 there now, I had it built,香蕉视频直播� he says of the Salmon Arm base. 香蕉视频直播淏ut we lived first in tents and a kitchen trailer. The crew was proving to be really, really useful香蕉视频直播� Districts would call in for a rappel crew; they didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to send crews in walking because of danger.香蕉视频直播�

A 60-foot training tower was built, and then a kitchen and locker room.

He says the small cabins were built after he left.

Dunlop emphasizes that Rapattack crews go all over the province and time is of the essence.

香蕉视频直播淎ny initial attack on the fire, but especially Rapattack going to inaccessible fires, you need to be able to respond quickly. I can香蕉视频直播檛 imagine people spread out all over downtown, or maybe far away, having them respond. I think what the current management is calling elitism, I call team work. If you want a crew to learn to work together, to pull together, have one common goal and to be effective香蕉视频直播�, you have them all live together.香蕉视频直播�

He said, instead of cutting catering in Salmon Arm, why not ask for contractors and set up catering at all the camps around the province. The crews would then pay for room and board and it would cost the government nothing.

香蕉视频直播淚t seems a logical way to go, rather than taking something away from somebody.香蕉视频直播�

He says he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 understand what the forest service is doing.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 like to criticize them, but I香蕉视频直播檓 not afraid to,香蕉视频直播� he said, noting if there are problems with personnel, they need to be properly managed.

If he had a crew that was acting like 香蕉视频直播渂ig shots,香蕉视频直播� he would give them push-ups, military-style.

香蕉视频直播淣obody objected to that, they all thought it was part of it.香蕉视频直播�

He said he suspects that the people making the major decisions have not had fire experience, noting it must be understood how decisions are going to affect the firefighters breathing the smoke.

If management doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have fire experience, then they need direct access to someone who does.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like appointing a dentist or a PhD to be chief pilot of the airline. They just don香蕉视频直播檛 have the experience.香蕉视频直播�

Dunlop doesn香蕉视频直播檛 understand the talk about elitism.

香蕉视频直播淟ook up the definition. It香蕉视频直播檚 somebody that香蕉视频直播檚 super trained, highly motivated, producing great results. Why worry about the elitism of Rap crews? The three-person initial attack crew, they香蕉视频直播檙e elite too, they香蕉视频直播檙e physically fit. I just don香蕉视频直播檛 get it.香蕉视频直播�

He wonders what香蕉视频直播檚 next 香蕉视频直播� will police tactical response teams and other highly trained teams be at risk of cuts?

Both Salmon Arm Mayor Nancy Cooper and Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo have expressed concern at the removal of catering and the planned removal of accommodation at the base. Cooper pointed out that the vacancy rate is essentially zero and the crew won香蕉视频直播檛 be able to find rentals.