Q&A: Tony Meakings, fire service wildfire instructor

Recently, editor Brittani Schroeder spoke with Tony Meakings, a fire service training instructor and volunteer firefighter for the Bear Lake Volunteer Fire Department, to speak about what he’s seen change in firefighter training over his career and where he’d like to see training go next.

Q: Can you tell our readers a little about yourself?

Tony Meakings: My first introduction to the fire service was when I was eight years old and saw my neighbour’s house on fire. I ran in to let them know and helped get them out. I’m now 67 years old, and I’ve been in the fire service for over 30 years.

I’ve fought wildfires and structural fires for the past 27 years as a member of the Bear Lake Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) and have been a fire warden and instructor for over 25 years. I originally became an instructor because our volunteer fire department didn’t have one. I had taken courses through the Justice Institute before, so I looked there for guidance. With our community being surrounded by forest areas, it made the most sense to train on wildfires and urban interface fires.

A short while ago, I was informed that I’m just a few points shy of achieving a Bachelor of Fire Science degree from the Justice Institute of British Columbia.

Q: What would you say are some of the top innovations in wildfire training over the past few years?

Meakings: The three innovations I have seen concerning wildfires are:

• The use of night vision in helicopters, which allows for night patrols. I would love to see British Columbia follow Alberta in allowing night-vision helicopter fire fighting.
• BC Wildfire Service firefighters work year-round. They do not wait for wildfires to start before activating their teams. They have their teams out cleaning ground fuels and dangerous trees, prepping just in case.
• The promotion of wildfire education to the public and communities. No matter your age, being Fire Smart, having go bags ready, and prepping your house and property in case of an emergency evacuation helps.

Q: What are some of the challenges you encounter when providing trainingA?

Meakings: I’ll be honest: electronic technology is one of my main challenges while teaching. Asking the firefighters to turn off their cellphones and muting smartwatches is a good first step. These are not just a distraction to the one person but the entire class; we’re dealing with some serious content.

That being said, technology has also advanced training, and I look forward to what technology has in store for the future.

Q: What is one lesson you’ve learned while teaching?

Meakings: I think the most important thing to realize is that each person you teach is unique. People have different ways of learning; some learn by reading, others by viewing on a big screen and others by hands-on. Try to use all the methods of learning in your institutions. Watch your class—if they are restless, it’s time for a break. Don’t forget to make yourself available to answer one-on-one questions.

Q: What would you like to see in the future for firefighter training?

Meakings: I would like to see more cross-training between wildfire services and local volunteer fire departments in their own halls and on their own equipment. I would want smaller volunteer fire departments, such as our small community in Bear Lake, to be able to continue, even if they don’t meet certain province requirements.

It would also be beneficial to recognize that volunteers work weird shifts. They require family time. Departments should adjust their training to suit the volunteers’ needs; they cannot adjust their families and work to suit the department.

I hold two training sessions every week: one on a weeknight and one on a weekend afternoon. If they were working in camp, their class time and tests could be done online.

I hope this helps and that we can create good teamwork between small communities and regional, provincial and federal governments.