BC Working With Communities to Prepare for Wildfire Season

Building on recommendations from the BC Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies, the FireSmart Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit will bring together hundreds of local and municipal firefighters to collaborate and train with the BC Wildfire Service. The province, First Nations, local governments, municipal fire departments, and FireSmart BC are coming together to help BC communities prepare for the wildfire season.

The five-day event includes two days of collaborative training between local fire departments and the BC Wildfire Service. The training includes classroom and field work focused on fire line operations, deployment of fire engines, large water-supply operations, and overall approaches to structure protection in the wildland-urban interface.

“This year’s Summit theme of ‘recover, rebuild, prepare’ reflects the work done by many communities after last season’s wildfires and the need to keep FireSmart principles in mind when preparing for future wildfire seasons,” said Tanya Spooner, manager of emergency programs, City of Prince George, and Task Force member. “It is a chance to further the reach of FireSmart messaging, and an apt reminder that the implementation of FireSmart principles is a relatively simple way for individuals and homeowners to reduce the negative impacts of wildfires.”

Following the training session, a three-day conference will explore lessons learned from 2023 and the latest research, technology, and programs that will help communities prepare for the wildfire season.

The province continues to implement recommendations from the Task Force in real time to help prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, including already announcing key steps this year:

• Increasing the use of new technology to better predict wildfire movement and growth
• Preparing more volunteers to support evacuees
• Enhancing wildland firefighter recruitment
• Boosting wildfire-fighting equipment, airplanes, and helicopters
• Announcing a $21-million equipment depot in Prince George
• Creating a dedicated wildfire training and education center at Thompson Rivers University