The MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson is urging the B.C. government to learn lessons from this year’s devastating wildfire season which destroyed 164 structures within the Thompson Nicola Regional District, including 53 primary homes.
“What we are calling for is an independent thorough review of what happened over the summer with the wildfires in British Columbia and make the changes that are necessary so we are better prepared for wildfires that might hit us in subsequent years,” Todd Stone told NL News.
Speaking on the NL Morning News, he says that includes ensuring that the BC Wildfire Service has the resources it needs to fight fires before they get too big.
“There needs to be a significant increase in funding for the BC Wildfire Service to more efficiently put these fires out before they get as big as some of these monster fires that we saw this year,” Stone added. “We would like to see a complete change in how the government engages with the private sector and there’s got to be a heck of a lot better engagement with locals to help fight these fires as opposed to blaming them for wanting to stay behind to protect their properties.”
Stone, who is the MLA for the Monte Lake area which was impacted by the White Rock Lake fire, also says it is time for the government to look at how a State of Emergency is declared. Speaking in the Legislature in Victoria on Monday, he says he believes there is a “disconnect” in the government in regards to the impact of wildfire on B.C.’s communities.
“Hopefully between what the TNRD is advocating for and other regional districts frankly and the work that we are doing down here in Victoria as MLAs, hopefully the government will take notice and will make some of the changes that are required,” he said.
TNRD emergency program coordinator Kevin Skrepnek says 2021 was a more challenging year than past record fire seasons in 2017 and 2018, when he was the head of communications for the BC Wildfire Service.
“Other than a complex of fires in the North Thompson, really it was mainly the Elephant Hill fire in 2017. That was a big, consequential and very aggressive fire that burned throughout the summer,” he said. “The difference being in 2021, we had a half-dozen Elephant Hills burning at the same time, pretty much from one corner of the regional district to the other.”
Skrepnek says the TNRD will be doing a full debrief of the fire season later this month, adding that a report with recommendations will be released when it is completed.
