Whistler prepares for wildfire season

Living in Whistler preventing wildfires is just as much the residents role as it is the authorities. The last few summers have certainly been stark reminders of what could happen. Former Olympic skier Rob Boyd knows the risk all too well. We have a cabin a couple hours to the north of here near Gun Lake where it came very, very close and I was frantically running around cutting branches, living way up high, removing any trees and close to the cab and setting up sprinkler systems. Rob’s home is one of the 354 Whistler dwellings. Have undergone fire smart assessment since 2016. You can see the lower limbs that have all been snipped off. The municipality needs that number to climb after releasing its landmark Community Wildfire Defence Plan that shows Whistler is under threat. A key finding From the report, there hasn’t been consistent recurring training in Whistler since the 2010 Winter Olympics. It appears that’s starting to change. There’s a mock up evacuation drill here in Spring Creek at the end of the month. Plans can’t sit on shelves. They need to be practiced and we’re committed to practicing these plans. Amongst the 53 recommendations, changes to bylaws, obtaining new equipment and training that will see general municipality staff undergo basic wildfire courses and if those people are prepared and trained on how to respond, how to communicate. That there is a fire and then how to actually address it and be a part of the response will be far. Better off change comes at a cost. What we spent last summer in in fighting wildfires was a billion dollars and the the response on the prevention side is is not as intense. Financially, the province reassuring residents no expense will be spared. The welfare service is authorized in advance to spend whatever it takes to put out the wildfires. Keep communities, families and businesses safe. Cassidy Moscone Global News.