As we enjoy our beautiful B.C. summers that bring in visitors from around the country and the world who contribute to our nearly $8 billion tourism industry, including over 150,000 jobs, it is clear that with the heat we have enjoyed over the past weeks that it was inevitable that that enjoyable warmth would eventually bring us to wildfire season.
To be clear, as I write this, there are a number of evacuation alerts and orders we should be aware of and monitoring in our community and surrounding region. This speaks true particularly in the south, in what will be part of the new Cariboo – Chilcotin riding. Through these alerts, we know fire has grown quickly, especially with the wind and warm temperatures near Spences Bridge and Ashcroft that have seen fires remain steady in the area.
Many other areas throughout B.C. have current wildfires and alerts. Simply put, we will need to be aware as a community and to be prepared to deal with the impacts that come with natural occurrences like this. Minding air quality, especially for our most vulnerable, is also critical to be aware of.
It is important to note that this particular fire appears to be caused by lightning. However, let’s not forget that we know through complaint reporting and government statistics that so many fires are, in fact, caused by humans and their actions. Your campfires, cigarette disposal and storage of materials impacts our environment and fire hazards that can go from minor to major severity. Not to mention the fear we have all have for those who live in Williams Lake when wildfire quickly entered our community on Sunday night.
For some of us of a certain generation, it still rings true; “Only you can prevent forest fires.” And while I might be aging myself, this classic message still needs to be echoed on these dry, hot days. We all have a part in keeping B.C. beautiful.
I can also appreciate the advocacy groups and concerned citizens who have added to the urgency of our call to be aware and informed about the air quality statistics and severity of these alerts. We know that we must, at all costs, stop the fires that are being caused by us! Please do not discard cigarettes or other flammable materials without ensuring that they are first extinguished!
Additionally, obey all fire bans! The penalties for disobeying can be massive. Please do not put our communities or resources at risk of a wiener roast that nobody wants to be invited to.
It is sound advice to be prepared to leave on short notice. We can’t predict where fire will strike nor can we predict when. Be ready with personal belongings, important documents and identification.
We are in this together and using Government of B.C. resources to stay informed will help take the heat away from the flames of uncertainty.
