Following the terrible fire in January this year, a visit by an expert in the field couldn’t come soon enough! This Monday (17th April) St Francis Bay Links will be holding their weekly Monday Night Dinner but this time with a difference for there will also be a guest speaker who is an expert in bush fires.
Pete Buist who lives in Alaska and has BS degrees in Biology and Environmental Forest Management from Syracuse University and State University of New York respectively, has worked for the National Park Service, US Forest Service and other agencies. He is retired from a 33 year career as a Forester and Wildland (Bush) Fire Fighter with the Alaskan Division of Forestry but still does contract fire management work during the summer season.
Pete serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) with the Alaska Inter-agency Incident Management Team. This team is one of just 16 national Type One teams in the US. The teams are called, on a duty rotation basis, to supplement local forces when natural disasters overwhelm the existing management structure and resources.
The Alaska Team has served on many wildland fires, but also earthquakes, oil spills, floods and hurricanes. They spent a month working at the World Trade Centre in 2001 after the 9-11 disaster.
This season will be Pete’s 49th summer as a wildland firefighter. He still somehow manages to pass the Fireline physical (Work Capacity Test.)
A friend of local Links residents John and Joan Barnes, we are so privileged to have him share his experiences and insight over an easy Monday dinner!
For ease of service St Francis Links is offering their Monday dinner as a three-course meal and ask that everyone is seated by 7pm. Pete will deliver his talk after starters after which the main course and dessert will be served!
Please book your table now as seating is limited and let St Francis Links know if you or anyone in your party have any special dietary requirements.
Dinner reservations: Tel 042 200 4500
Article from Liezl Claus – edited
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