Camp Vernon. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

Tour through Camp Vernon

Camp Vernon home to 330 firefighters and support personnel

Aug 13, 2021 | 5:00 AM

Firefighters and support personnel working on the White Rock Lake wildfire have set up their tents at Camp Vernon, the B.C. Wildfire Service’s (BCWS) base of operations at Kin Race Track Park.

The camp, which is home to 330 individuals, has tents in the field while services and trailers have been brought in to make the camp a bit more comfortable. Two of the trailers are designated for COVID isolation or people with sleep or health issues, while the third trailer has been converted into an office space.

Cian Carroll, a logistics sections chief with BCWS, said a number of rapid COVID tests have been administered, but there have been no positive tests in the camp as of yet.

“We have been quite lucky to not have any positive tests here, and we’re really putting a lot of effort into keeping it that way,” said Carroll.

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There are also bathroom/shower trailers, laundry trailers, first aid trailers, and a kitchen trailer where a catering company cooks meals for the personnel who eat in covered dining areas. The camp also has a covered operations area for weekly meetings, and trailers for finance and command, logistics and safety, and one that the rest of the sections operate from.

Cian Carroll leads a tour through Camp Vernon, starting with the trailers (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

(Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

One of the two dining areas at Camp Vernon. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

There is a path for personnel to follow when they go to pick up their meals. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

The firefighters work 14 days straight, then have two days off followed by two days of ‘office days.’

The firefighters return to camp every night after their shifts, which typically last between 14 and 16 hours.

Camp Vernon is located at Kin Race Track behind Kal Tire Place, and though it’s by a busy street, Carrol says the noise is pretty steady and becomes barely noticeable after a while.

The firefighters and personnel are provided with sleeping mats and disposable sleeping bags for their tents.

“As I’m sure anyone who’s gone camping understands, you don’t get as good of a rest in a tent as you would in you own bed, [which] plays into fatigue that wears on the crews over time. But they do an amazing job with it. The way they stay positive is always impressive to me,” said Carroll.

He adds, though it’s not much, it’s not like the firefighters are here all that often.

“Basically all of our staff work 14-day shifts, and within those you’re going to work about a 14 to 15 hour day and up to 16 [hours], depending on the situation on the fire line. We get eight hours minimum clear, and then we go back out on the fire line for the next day.”

Camp Vernon. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

Camp Vernon as seen from Kal Tire Place. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

He adds some firefighters that have been doing this for a long time have picked up some tricks like having USB powered devices like fans to give them a bit more comfort when at camp.

The camp is self-sufficient with septic systems, propane and water hookups. The camp is also connected to some of the City of Vernon’s services, like water and septic, which Carrol said they’re very grateful for.

(Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

Signs have also been posted outside of Camp Vernon. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

(Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)