The Bush Creek East wildfire got close to a residential house in the Shuswap on August 18.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Angie Laryea
September 07, 2023 - 7:00 PM
A North Thompson community is urging other BC communities for support in its call for a third-party review of the 2023 wildfire season.
Wildfire crews continue to fight fires in BC into September, but it was weeks ago the province reached its worst year on record in terms of land burned.
The District of Barriere sent a letter to the Thompson Nicola Regional District, Aug. 28, asking for support to push the province for the independent review.
"With the unprecedented wildfires throughout our province in 2023 that are destroying more land, homes and infrastructure than ever before, it is important for the government of BC to recognize its responsibility in analyzing each fire and their respective crew responses in order to learn and be able to improve future wildfire outcomes," the letter written by Barriere mayor Ward Stamer reads.
It calls for the province to retain all information, data and correspondence about the BC Wildfire Service response to each wildfire this year.
As of Sept. 7, there have been 2,091 wildfires in BC, with 410 still active. The vast majority have been in the Prince George fire centre, with 613 throughout the season and 133 still active, burning more than 1.7 million hectares.
A total 2.25 million hectares burned in the province so far this year, nearly doubling the 1.35 million hectare record set in 2018. That record was broken in mid-July, but other provinces like Ontario also saw record-breaking fires by that time as well.
Despite a growing belief among Canadians that the reason for the devastating wildfire season was arson, the vast majority of BC fires were naturally-caused. The BC Wildfire Service recorded nearly 1,500 of the 2,091 wildfires this year as being caused by lightning.
The regional district board, of which Stamer is also a director, voted to support Barriere today, Sept. 7.
"This review needs to begin immediately and its summary, with initial recommendations, should be shared with the public before the 2024 wildfire season," the letter reads, suggesting the 2003 audit provided "invaluable lessons" in the years that followed.
The letter calls on municipalities and regional districts across the province to lend their support.
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