Eighteen firefighters from across Northern B.C. took part in specialized rail safety training in Prince Rupert last week to strengthen their ability to respond to emergencies involving liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The two-day program combined classroom instruction with hands-on live-fire exercises designed to prepare first responders for incidents involving LPG rail cars and flammable materials.
The training was delivered through a partnership between AltaGas and CN, which has provided annual emergency response training for fire departments along the Northern B.C. corridor since 2019. Pembina joined the initiative in 2023.
This year’s sessions brought together firefighters from several communities, including Prince Rupert and the District of Port Edward. Classroom instruction was co-led by Ambipar Emergency Response, while Emergency Response Assistance Canada led the live-fire exercises.
Captain Troy Leighton, acting chief of the Prince Rupert Fire Department, said the training allows firefighters to practise responding to realistic emergency scenarios while learning from industry experts.
“This annual training gives our firefighters the opportunity to work through realistic LPG emergency scenarios in a safe, controlled environment while learning directly from industry experts,” Leighton said. “The classroom instruction combined with live-fire exercises strengthens our understanding of LPG rail cars and emergency response procedures, giving our crews greater confidence, capability and readiness to protect our communities should an incident occur.”
Leighton said the program also helps establish relationships between first responders and the companies operating along the rail corridor.
“Beyond the training itself, this initiative also gives an opportunity to build strong working relationships with our industry partners who operate in the region,” he said. “So that, if an emergency ever happens, we’re ready to respond together.”
Derek Vallee, general manager of midstream operations at AltaGas, said emergency preparedness is an important investment in the communities where the company operates.
“By bringing firefighters together from across Northern B.C. for hands-on training and real-world exercises, we’re helping strengthen local emergency response capabilities and building a safer, more resilient region,” Vallee said. “We are proud to partner with Pembina and CN to support this important work.”
The training location rotates among communities along the Northern B.C. corridor every two to three years to encourage broad participation and strengthen emergency response capabilities across the region.
The annual program aims to ensure firefighters have the specialized knowledge and practical experience needed to respond to potential LPG-related rail emergencies, while strengthening coordination between local fire departments and industry partners.
