A training session covering the basics of emergency management for Saskatchewan communities is being held in La Ronge next week.

The Basic Emergency Management course is offered across the province, and covers topics like preparedness, response and recovery.

La Ronge Fire Chief Ron Pratt says the course is intended for elected officials, or those who are involved in their community’s EMO plan, and covers various procedures.

“How to set up an emergency management centre, how to start emergency management or declare an emergency, what the definition of an emergency is,” he says.  “Like it’s actually for anything that exceeds the resources that a community has to handle it.”

He adds the training is being offered with the upcoming fire season in mind.

“We brought it in to here because we wanted to get it set up,” he says.  “Because we are looking at the possibility of having a fire year that is maybe not as bad as last year, but it is going to be higher than average, and we sure would hope to get lots of people involved.  Because when you have these things happen, you can never be prepared enough for it”.

The two-day session runs next Monday and Tuesday, March 14 and 15, and there is no cost.

Anyone interested can call the La Ronge Regional Fire Department at (306) 425-3230.