I completely understand there is a need to protect the population areas with higher density. And I agree that certain national and provincial parks deserve to be protected with higher urgency and priority.
However, even considering those factors, the resources deployed to protect northwestern B.C. is shockingly paltry in comparison to other areas of the province.
Is the B.C. government purposely trying to sabotage certain area of our province? Or are we executing NIMBY in provincial policy level?
I am truly shocked by the figures published everyday, which is making residents here in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako incredibly upset and overlooked. How can you justify 97 firefighters for 13,000-hectare Snowy Mountain Fire, when there's only 72 fire fighters for the 30,000-hectare Shovel Lake Fire, which is now endangering four adjacent towns and rural communities around Burns Lake, Fraser Lake, and Fort St. James.
Please think about the firefighters. On Island Lake fire, which is 11,000 hectares, there are only eight firefighters! The Nadina Lake fire which is 25000 hectares in size and completely out of control has warranted a mere 15 firefighters. It now endangers Burns Lake residents and evacuations are commonplace and frequently expanded.
More than anything, I am worried about the safety of the firefighters with paltry and insulting amount of support, to do their best.
By the numbers:
Skeena-Bulkly (Burns Lake, Fraser Lake, Vanderhoof,)
Nadina Lake - 25,000 ha., 15 firefighters, seven pieces of heavy equipment
Verdun Mtn. - 4,500 ha, 34 firefighters, two pieces of heavy equipment
Island Lake - 11,300 ha., eight firefighters, 14 pieces of heavy equipment
Shovel Lake - 30,000 ha., 72 Firefighters, 53 pieces of heavy equipment
The above four fires covering 70,800 hectares share 15 helicopters and 37 administrative/support personnel.
Compare that with Vancouver Island:
Nanaimo Lake - 182 ha., 34 Firefighters, six pieces of heavy equipment and two helicopters
Mount Hicks - 120 ha., 34 firefighters and five helicopters
Compare that with the Southern Interior:
Snowy Mountain - 13,359 ha., 97 firefighters and 10 helicopters
Mayfield Lake - 237 ha., 59 firefighters, nine pieces of heavy equipment and two helicopters
I guess if you don't live in the Southern Interior or on Vancouver Island, you don't rate the resources needed to protect property and lives.
Considering the Minister of Forests lives in this region, you'd think this type of thing wouldn't have happened but it has. Shame on the NDP government for treating those of us in northwest of the province like second-class citizens.
Sang Han,
Burns Lake
