The McDougall Creek Wildfire on Aug. 17, 2023.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Adelina Juchnik

While being too polite to openly complain about not being part of the Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies, Central Okanagan politicians are demanding to have their say about devastating wildfires in the region last summer.

Following on the heels of an Oct. 5 letter from six regional CAOs to the Ministry of Emergency Management, mayors are now sending a letter to the Premier and six cabinet ministers, pushing to be heard by the task force.

The letter also calls for financial assistance to local businesses harmed by what was labelled the Grouse Complex, which was the McDougall Creek wildfire in and around West Kelowna and two fires in Kelowna and Lake Country sparked by embers drifting across Okanagan Lake from that fire.

“Through the post-event review, we implore government to embed local lived crisis experience into the Task Force review,” the mayors’ letter says. “We recognize this will be done in collaboration with local government and look forward to being a part of those discussions.”

The letter also hints at dissatisfaction with the province unilaterally imposing a travel ban to the region.

“Travel advisories and a declaration of a state of emergency has significant and direct impact on our region’s economic health,” the letter says. “The Central Okanagan is heavily reliant on tourism and hospitality and the timing and nature of these advisories have a substantial effect on local businesses.

“We request a transparent and collaborative approach prior to these declarations to ensure that the economic implications for our region are appropriately considered.”

The mayors are also calling for a “comprehensive assessment” of the economic impact, not only on tourism, but also on other industries such as agriculture, forestry and manufacturing. That information is needed to help plan recovery efforts.

“We know that businesses need financial assistance for relief measures post wildfire,” the letter says “As we enter into the slower months of economic stimulation, immediate financial supports are required for relief and recovery efforts. Whether through grants, low interest loans or otherwise, it is essential our local businesses have the support to emerge stronger.”

The letter is signed by the four regional mayors, the regional district board chair and the Westbank First Nation chief.

The McDougall Creek wildfire did most of its damage on Aug. 17-18, triggering the evacuation of about 26,000 residents in a 48-hour period and overwhelming the Emergency Support Services system.

READ MORE: People power key to fixing struggling emergency support system in BC

In all, 189 properties were damaged in five jurisdictions, although there has been no count provided of the actual number of homes destroyed by the fires.

On Oct. 5, the province announced the formation of the 14-member task force.

Six members are from the provincial government, four from First Nations, two from local governments (Thompson Nicola Regional District and City of Prince George) one is the president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC and one is a former director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

On Oct. 5, the letter from Central Okanagan CAO’s was drafted, although it was only endorsed by the regional district board last week on Oct. 19.

The letter from the mayors is dated Oct. 17. It was in the agenda for the Oct. 24 meeting of Peachland council but it already contained signatures from leaders of all six jurisdictions.

The letter from the COA’s is referenced in the mayors’ letter.

“The Regional District of Central Okanagan’s Emergency Operation Centre is considered the gold standard and is one of only a few regional programs in the province,” the CAO's letter to the Ministry says. “As leaders in the region, we welcome the work of the task force and respectfully ask to be engaged as an integral part of the development of future emergency management planning in BC.”

West Kelowna city councillor Rick de Jong has called for a public hearing to be held as soon as possible while memories are fresh so people actually evacuated and affected by the fires have a chance to share their views.

READ MORE: McDougall Creek Wildfire: Public role in postmortem not likely

A motion to that effect was passed by West Kelowna city council on Oct. 10 but it won’t go to regional board members until at least their next meeting on Nov. 9.

It’s not clear if that motion will even make it to the board as an item for discussion or just be attached to the agenda for information.

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