Harvey Lumsdon

• Invermere initial attack member, working as part of a four man crew. Responded to Wildfires via engine or helicopter. Focused a lot on first aid training, vehicle recovery and chainsaw proficiency when not actively working on fires. Completed multiple fuel mod/ firesmart projects during non busy periods. Deployed to Vanjam for IA support and also gained some SRL days. Gained chainsaw, first aid and UTV certifications whilst working with BCWS.

Whilst working as a Helitack Member with Alberta Wildfire I gained the majority of my fire experience. I worked through the fire season into the winter whilst remaining on a Helitack crew. During the summer I gained experience working on around 40 different fires as a member and as an IC. Even as a Member I was able to lead equipment, aircraft and crews. During the winter I worked on Firesmart projects, sustained action on holdover fires and even deployed to California during the LA fires.

Whilst working as a Groundskeeper at Panorama I had multiple duties such as operating equipment, snow shoveling and salting, providing support for setting up for events and just generally keeping the resort clean. I worked long hours, especially during days with more snowfall, staying until the work was complete.

At Lake Louise I started as a snowmaker and was eventually made lead hand. My duties as a snowmaker consisted of doing gun runs, helping with snowgun slinging operations, helping other crews out with any issues they ran into during their gun run and assisting the foreman with snowmaking plans. Whilst snowmaking at Lake Louise I was working 12hr night shifts, often in extreme cold.

Whilst as a Helitack member with Alberta Wildfire in the 2023 season I gained lots of experience and really nailed down the basics of Wildland Firefighting due to the busy fire season. During this season I worked on around 15 different fires, typically on sustained action due to the limited resources. Even as a rookie I was given leadership opportunities by late season.

As a housekeeper at Panorama my duties would consist of cleaning rooms I was assigned and then they'd be checked by a QA later on in the day. However I was quickly promoted to a self-checker position due to the quality of my work. I also received praise and won prize draws for my good work.

As a snowmaker at Panorama I primarily operated the plant, occasionally going up the mountain to help out with operations on the hill. My duties in the plant consisted of providing weather updates to staff out on the mountain, updating crews on winch cat operation, remotely controlling snowguns, logging maintainance info and making sure air and water supply are functioning correctly.

As a warehouse operative with Amazon, I worked in Outbound, making sure packages were packed correctly and sent to the correct location. I would work 6 days per week on nightshift. This was a temporary position that I had to take up to save up for my move to Canada.

In the British Army my duties were endless. During my time in the Army I passed out of Phase 1 Basic training, continued onto Phase 2 advanced infantry training and gained my full UK drivers license. Unfortunately due to a knee injury received whilst out on a training exercise I was in physiotherapy for 3 months and ultimately left the Army.