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15TuesdayOctober82013PetroleumLtd.1BreynatStreetFortSmithNT867872-4567FirePreventionWeekVolunteersByMARIACHURCHPuttingyourlifeonthelinetobattleablazeisask-ingalotfromyouraveragepersonbutdoingallthatin40-belowweatherisan-otherstory.ThatsthestoryinTuktoyaktukwherewin-terrespresentuniquechal-lengestothevolunteerredepartment.TworesweretackledinTukinthepastyearbothinthemiddleofwintersaidTukFireChiefStanleyFelix.Felixexplainedthatinordertoghtareduringfreezingconditionsfire-ghtersinTukknowtostaymovingduringanoperationandtrusttheirgearwilldothetrick.Stayactiveandstaywarm.Wedontreallyworryaboutgettingwetwiththatgearbecauseitworkssowell.Ourgearcouldgetsoakingwetanditwouldstillgiveusprotectionhesaid.RecentlytheTukrede-partmentwasapprovedtoorder30newsetsofbun-kergear-thestandardizedreghtingsuitthatincludesthehelmetbootsglovesjacketandpants.ThejacketandpantsbothhaveanoutershellamoisturebarrierandathermalbarriermakingTukfiredeptfaceschallengesinHighArcticthesuitreretardantandratedto-40C.Ontopoftheusualbun-kergearreghtersinTukwearareretardantbala-clavatokeepwarmduringthewinter.Thelasttwofireswehadwereinwintertimeandassoonasourgeargotwetitfrozeonthesurface.Itworked.Itdidwhatitwassupposedtodoprotectthereghtershesaid.WhiletheretrucksorpumpersusedinTukarethesameasthoseusedinmostcitiesinCanadadur-ingtheirwinteroperationstheTukredepartmentisforcedtokeepthehosesonatrickletopreventthemfromfreezingandclogging.Wevegotanoldpumperfrom1988thatwearestillusingplusanewtypeofpumperthatwejustgotin2011andtheyworkneincoldweatherbutyouhavetoknowwhatyouredoingFelixsaid.Youhavetomakesurethetruckisrun-ningallthetimeandmakesureitshot.WhilehouseresarenotoverlyfrequentintheArc-ticcoastalcommunityFelixexplainedthatbecausemosthousesarearound25to30yearsoldtheyareseeinganincreaseinthenumberofelectricalres.Whenahousefireoc-cursanditsunattendeditcantakeaslittleas3.5to5minutesfortheretospreadoutofcontrolheexplained.Peopledontrealizethattheyhaveaboutsixminutestogetthereundercontrolandiftheydonttheyhavetogetoutofthehouse.TheydontrealizehowfasttheheatbuildsupinthehomeFelixsaid.ThisisFelixssecondtermasrechiefinTukhisrsttimewasforaperiodofveyearswhenhewasonly20.Lastyear28yearslaterFelixsaidhetooktheposi-tionagainbecausetherewasalackofqualiedcandidatesintherunning.Felixsaidrecruitingvolunteerfirefightersisnoteasyinsucharemotecommunity.WevehadproblemswithvolunteersinthepastsoIhandpicked90percentofthevolunteerswehaverightnowhesaid.IchosetheguysthatIknowdontmindvolunteeringtheirtimeandeffortlearningsomethingnew.ThosevolunteersmakethedepartmentwhatitistodayFelixsaid.Idontthinkthatpeoplerealizehowmanytimestheyputthemselvesatriskjusttosavesomebodyslife.Everyredepartmentacrossthiscountryisinthesamesit-uation.Aredepartmentwontbewhatitiswithoutthevolunteersasasupportstructurehesaid.ThisismysecondtimeaschiefandImreallyfor-tunatethatwehaveagoodmayorandgoodcouncilsupportingtheredepart-menttogetnewgeartogetnewtrainingandtolearndifferenttechniquesforghtingare.PhotocourtesyofTukFireDept.FromleftNoellaCockneyRichardCockneyKevinNuttallandStanleyFelixgetsuitedupinbunkergearfortraining.