EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

BC’s motto is “The most beautiful place on earth”. This could be argued, but clearly it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Partly because of its natural setting.  But this natural setting comes with a price.

The 2017 summer drought in BC has finally been broken. We had measurable rainfall last week. And record-breaking high temperatures seem to be returning to a seasonal normal range. However, as I detailed in previous blogs, we’ve had a record-breaking number of wildfire, both in numbers and impact.

Although thousands of firefighters have been involved, the corner really wasn’t turned on controlling the fires until the weather turned. The challenge was not as much the number of fires but the logistics of fighting fires in British Columbia.

Unlike any of the other 13 provinces or territories, BC is mountainous.   Large swaths of the region are stunningly remote. Most are forested in verdant green. Did I also mention that BC is huge? it’s the size of California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington combined. The relatively small population of approximately 3 million hugs its southern with the US, from Washington to Montana. Most of the province is very sparsely populated.

I was told years ago by a forester that when a fire sparks in a remote, uninhabited area, the forest service won’t go in but generally monitors it.  Maybe goes in for a mop-up job. There’s simply not sufficient firepower…pardon the pun…to attack it. This is why BC had more than 150 fires burning simultaneously this summer, with most of them <10% contained. Until the rains and cooler weather came.

Back to the beauty of the province. Vast, uninterrupted regions of fresh flora and fauna, snow-capped peaks that plunge into the blue Pacific, and post-card sketches of breathtaking landscapes. This is why BC’s license tag motto, somewhat pompously declares, “The most beautiful place on earth.”  Tourists by the droves come to the province annually to see this beauty. They bring with them billions of dollars.

But with this immense beauty comes risk. In this case, the risk of wildfires – in great and uncontrollable numbers. This is what happened Summer 2017, of which I have spoken in previous blogs.  Controlling the fires is this immense province has cost the province hundreds of millions. BC’s government has been pleading for federal funding, and will receive some. But this province also receives many billions in annual revenue from visitors.  Some of these funds will be directed to the cost of the fire response.

The risk of natural disaster is inherent in a “super, natural BC”, as another provincial motto goes. This includes the risk of wildfire. It’s difficult, in fact impossible, to accept one without the other.  2017 has been a challenging year, and fortunately not every year is as disastrous. What’s important now is to learn the lessons from this past summer, toward improved mitigation, preparedness, and response, on every level. To keep the province more ready for the next disaster. To maintain the province’s wonder and beauty – for generations from around the world to see.

Thanks for reading.