Friday August 27, 2021 | LOGAN LAKE, BC [Updated at 3:35 pm]
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
The wildfire fighting effort in BC has ramped up to something that requires year-round action and therefore budgeting to reflect and support that new reality amidst climate change, says Premier John Horgan.
Instead of following how wildfire budgets have been done in the past, Horgan says he will approach his cabinet to produce a 2022-2023 budget that supports year-round firefighting supports. Not just the obvious and essential frontline action in July through September, but FireSmart preparation in the winter months and training in between the active fire seasons.
The approach is about being “as prepared as we can be for the fire season”, the Premier said today in a press conference livestreamed from Logan Lake. He underscores the importance of this being necessary in what he feels is the indisputable evidence of the reality and impacts of climate change.
Horgan said that members of his family are firefighters, that he knows the level of commitment and the hard work that goes into things on the front line.
Horgan didn’t mention the Liberal campaign promise lobbed out by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in recent days, that a re-elected Liberal government would provide $500 million toward the training of 1,000 more firefighters to help battle wildfires in BC. But perhaps the heads up that BC is adjusting its approach to wildfire budgeting was kickstarted by that campaign promise.
Letting professionals guide the process:
Horgan emphasized again today that his “style” to let professionals do what they are experts at, in the context that he will take direction from the BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Management BC (EMBC) as to what firefighting strategies are needed, when and how. “My style has been to let qualified people do their work,” is how the premier put it today.
Both Horgan and Conroy have seen the devastation of the fire at Lytton where most of the town was completely destroyed by fire in July. They have flown over Monte Lake to get an idea of the damage and situation there.
Continuing State of Emergency:
As for the continuing State of Emergency in BC regarding wildfires (primarily to allow for providing accommodations for people who are evacuated), Horgan says he will again rely on the professional advice of BC Wildfire and EMBC.
Fire Smart:
In today’s media session, Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith says she is open to sharing how her community undertook fire smart protection, to the benefit of other communities.
After the media session Horgan and Conroy chatted with firefighters at the Logan Lake Fire Department.
LINKS (Government websites):
Current Wildfire Activity in BC
