A group of B.C. reservists, including those from Chilliwack, returned from a forest fighting operation to the Col. Roger St. John Armoury on Korea Rd. last Monday.
The group included about 60 reservists and a 23 vehicle convoy, from across the Lower Mainland, Chilliwack, and Vancouver Island. They were a part of Operation Lentus, fighting the fire at Riske Creek. Other reservists that were fighting the fires headed back to areas in the Interior and northern B.C. They all helped form a significant portion of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group contribution.
The reservists conducted both assistance to law enforcement and forest fire fighting. The majority of the forest fire fighting was in the Riske Creek area, west of Williams Lake. This fire grew to 239,000 HA. The fire fighting started on Aug. 14. Members of both local units of The Royal Westminster Regiment and 39 Combat Engineer Regiment contributed to the operation.
The Royal Westminster Regiment is a Primary Reserve light infantry unit that traces its lineage back to 1863.
Anyone interested in the exciting part-time opportunities that the Royal Westminster Regiment has to offer are welcome to attend an Open House at the Col. St. John OMM, CD Armoury at 5355 Korea Road, Chilliwack on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That day, armouries all over the country are holding open houses as part of an Army Reserve recruitment drive.
