Early start to B.C. wildfire season

The third week of April and fire crews are already out working on the front lines in Prince George. Volunteer firefighters, along with the BC Wildfire Service were called out to the Chief Lake Rd. area to battle a small blaze. It burned through two hectares before it was brought under control. A similar situation near Oliver Crews called out for another human caused fire dry conditions, causing significant concerns for communities around BC. It does seem to get earlier and earlier as things go along year after year, but we just prepare ourselves and try to be ready for anything that comes. While there are several holdover fires from 2023, the first new fire of the year was last month near Lumbee. The BC Wildfire Service is dealing with 118 fires burning across the province. Seven have started in just the past 24 hours. Three are considered out of control. So we’ve leased more equipment, helicopters, aircraft. We’ve hired more people. The recruitment of the wildland firefighters has opened up. We’ve hired many, many more than we have hired in previous seasons. Critics of the government, though, say more needs to be done and more can be done to help prevent fires. I think we need to be working with local governments and working with First Nations to ensure that prescribed burns are happening to get fuel off off of the landscape as in a controlled way. Really have making sure that there’s enough resources for local governments and First Nations to be able to do that work and to guide that work. Now, remember, last year we spent a billion dollars trying to put out fires. If we redirected or prioritized a billion dollars towards innovative solutions in British Columbia, that would save us at least $5 billion over the next decade or two. The province promising resources needed to fight fires will be there when they’re needed. Hoping a cool, wet May and June. Will help reduce the risk. Aaron MacArthur, Global News.