Amid wildfires, B.C. company touts its go-anywhere internet link

A small B.C. company hopes its portable wi-fi technology will be adopted by emergency servicesafter what it calls a successful first run near the Alkali Lake wildfire in northern B.C.

The five-person company called YodelMeprovidesinternet access from anywhere. It usessmall devicescalled "Explorers" which create a wi-fi hotspot andsend data to asatellite.

The company has lately been working with the TahltanFirst Nation in Dease Lake and TelegraphCreek, B.C., where wildfires have forced evacuations. The communitieshave no cellular or data service.

"It gives them 100 per centcoverage, no matter where they are," said YodelMeCEO AaronKilback, about those using the system.

The company's satellite connectionservice launched last year. So far,YodelMe has had afew pilot projects testing the system,including work with the BCWildfire Service and BCCorrections.

The devices were also used last year in Penticton, B.C., to help coordinate flood relief.

Working with TahltanNation

YodelMe doesn'thave a contract withthe BCWildfire Service or Emergency Management BC. The company has been hired by the TahltanNation'sdevelopment corporation to work in DeaseLake and Telegraph Creek.

Kilback says the service already proved useful to local emergency services, as a VHF radio system used byRCMP was damaged by the Alkali Lake fire and could not be used. Another radiosystem used by B.C.'s Ministry of Forestry, Lands and Natural Resources was also damaged and only worked intermittently.

"Because the technology is new, we've wanted opportunities to deploy and prove we can do what we said we could do. Working with theTahltan,we were able to do that."-Aaron Kilback, CEO YodelME

Kilback said hissatellite system has already helped with one medical emergency as a firefighter on the line was informed his wife had fallen ill in DeaseLake.

"Typically that person would not have found out until 12or 24 hours later," he said.

'First real test'in a wildfire situation

Working near Alkali Lake has been YodelMe's"first real test" working around a wildfire, says Kilback.

"Because the technology is new, we've wanted opportunities to deploy and prove we can do what we said we could do. Working with the Tahltan, we were able to do that," Kilback said.

While satellite modems are not themselves a new invention, Kilback says his company has been able to reduce the cost of transmissions bycompressingdata.

The service allows crews to use regular cell phones to connect with the outside world, though they can still use walkie-talkies or other means to communicate with each other in the field.

Another feature the company offers is anemergencybeacon which is broadcastif the wearer fails to indicate they are safe.

Kilback says he hopesthe company will find clients in lawenforcement, the oil and gassector or other groups working in remote locations.

"I've tried SPOTs, 'inReach'sin the past, satellitephone and the experience was poor. So we've tried to improve the situation," he said.

Firefighters continue to workin Telegraph Creek this week.The chief of the Tahltan Nation says people maynotbe able to return home untilthe end of the month.