Editor,
The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) is seeking feedback on the summer’s wildfire season.
I would like to offer my observations and recommendations. I would begin by saying the firefighters in the region did what they could, given the lack of resources they had, and local residents were, I’m sure, grateful for the work they did.
That said, the response to the lightning storm on July 7, which started over 120 fires in the Central Interior, was woefully inadequate. What could have and should have happened, is another story.
The “strategists” or planners should have been prepared for the worst, which is what happened — a “perfect storm.” We began our summer hot spell on May 24, just before the long weekend.
After several years of miserable weather on May long weekend, our campgrounds were full, as were most other sites in the province. This was followed by a full month of hot weather, and virtually no precipitation.
At this point, there had been rain through the entire springtime in Ontario and Manitoba. Fire hazard there was nil.
So why were the firefighters there not deployed to British Columbia where the hazard was, by this time, extreme, and the situation was very volatile?
The crews should have been here, meeting our firefighters, and getting familiar with the location and the terrain.
The CIFAC base at Riske Creek should have been operational. Puntzi Mountain airbase could have been ready. We should have been ready for the worst case scenario.
Campfire bans were not in place for the July long weekend, and logging was still going on out west, on the day that the fires struck.
I have heard people say that it would be too expensive to send crews here from Ontario, but the army was sent here sometime later.
Question: Why are the army personnel not trained to fight fires? They should be. They spent their time manning checkpoints (which were a bit heavy-handed) and going to Tim Hortons.
The Gustafson Lake Fire was our wake-up call, and evacuations of 100 Mile House area had already taken place. A fire at Emerald Lake, 15 miles south of Chimney Lake, had four skimmer-type bombers that made 11 trips to put out the fire there.
When the fires struck around the community there was a sense of being surrounded by the fires, and there was tension in the air. The families close to the lightning strikes were evacuated immediately, and some arrived at the campgrounds at Chimney Lake by late afternoon of July 7.
My recommendations for the CRD would be to have better communications regarding the situation with the wildfires. When the mayor said on national television he was unaware the Prime Minister was going to be visiting B.C., something is lacking in communication.
If there were daily meetings, or pub lunches, or whatever, local authorities should be fully aware of what is going on. Mayor Cobb said that he hadn’t been in contact with his local MLA. So keeping residents informed each day would be a good idea. Update the reports for each area — per cent containment of the fires, etc.
Let the local people do what they can to save houses, using the equipment and skills that they have. They know they do not have coverage, insurance, and are maybe not qualified, certified, or authorized, but they can save homes.
Response to the fiercest fires across the Fraser River was virtually non-existent. So local residents, at Riske Creek and Anaham fought the fires themselves, and it was good they did. At Riske Creek, the Jaspers and others fought the fires with the resources they had.
Then, when the official firefighters arrived, they told residents, “Go home, you’re not needed,” rather than saying, “Good work. Let’s fight this fire together.”
In a State of Emergency like we experienced this summer, everyone should pitch in and help. Canadians are always there to help each other … that’s how we are.
I guess the firefighters are heroes, but I consider someone who puts themselves in personal danger to save the life of another person a hero, not someone who is doing the job they are paid to do. Not to criticize in any way, just to put things in perspective. Good work was done by them, and they deserve our thanks.
Did we learn anything from the fires in 2010? Maybe not.
We should know that after a month of hot weather, we usually have dry lightning that starts numerous fires. In 2010, the month of July was hot and dry. Just before the August long weekend an evening lightning storm started close to 40 fires, mostly across the Fraser River, Meldrum Creek and Soda Creek Road.
Loggers in these areas were ordered out, even though they were obviously able to help in the battle, having their equipment available, and they might have been able to salvage the logs that were decked up ready for hauling.
The daily safety meetings held then did nothing at all to help the situation. The main problem with these situations is that there are so many rules that nothing gets done. There are always a dozen reasons why something can’t be done, instead of using common sense to get the work done.
I have always believed preventative maintenance should be done to build fire guards around the town, and to remove ground fuels. This was done in some areas like White Road, and helped to protect these areas. Trailer parks could be guarded, and hydrants installed in some areas.
It is money well spent, providing employment and giving residents some reassurance they will not be at the mercy of these horrific fires.
Williams Lake “dodged a bullet ” to use a cliché, but this will not be the last summer with fires. We should be ready for the next one.
Michael Atwood
Williams Lake