The B.C. government declared a state of emergency this week as more than 550 wildfires burned across the province. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated and thousands more are under evacuation alert. The Armed Forces have been called in. Smoke from the fires covers Alberta and blows as far east as Manitoba. With no relief from weather in sight, officials say the potential exists for the situation to get worse before it gets better.
Except for smoke in the air and last weekend’s three-hectare blaze above Horseshoe Bay, the Sunshine Coast has stayed well outside the danger zone. Since most fires are said to be human caused, the public deserves credit for acting responsibly and taking the necessary precautions outdoors. But we’re not out of the woods yet. As Sechelt Fire Chief Trevor Pike pointed out, “Across the province fire department resources are stretched thin and that’s one of the reasons there’s a real strict campfire ban in place. We ask the community’s cooperation to do everything they can to reduce the chance of wildfire.”
Emergency resources on the Coast have taken a couple of hits.
Earlier this week, six Sunshine Coast firefighters – two each from Gibsons, Roberts Creek and Sechelt – and two emergency vehicles were deployed to the north-central B.C. community of Fort St. James. The absence of personnel means greater reliance on mutual aid agreements between volunteer fire departments, increasing their exposure in the event of multiple fires.
We also confirmed this week that long-time Sunshine Coast emergency program coordinator Bill Elsner has stepped down. Elsner played a vital role in the 2015 Old Sechelt Mine Fire, coordinating resources, helping execute evacuations and notifying the public and elected officials on the fire’s status. The SCRD’s chief administrative officer says the emergency program has continued to operate effectively since Elsner’s departure, with Gibsons Fire Chief Rob Michael and deputy coordinator Bruce Searle carrying out his duties temporarily.
We don’t dispute those assurances, but the loss remains significant – especially at this time.
All the more reason for each of us to do everything we can to keep the Coast fire free.
