The B.C. government is urging residents to prepare for an active wildfire season.
Due to “persistent drought conditions,” the BC Wildfire Service is forecasting its fourth consecutive bad wildfire season this summer.
Daily Hive recently spoke to Mike Flannigan, a research chair in predictive services, emergency management and fire science at Thompson Rivers University, who said that much of Canada and B.C. are experiencing ongoing dryness and drought.
He also added that we are likely switching from a La Niña to an El Niño by summer, which tends to mean hot and dry weather.
In a press release, the BC Wildfire Service said that if there isn’t much rainfall over the next few weeks and months, they expect wildfire activity to increase.
“As we move into spring and temperatures begin to rise, our focus is on keeping people, families and communities safe,” said Randene Neill, B.C’s minister of water, land and resource stewardship, in the release.
“From flooding to droughts, we are seeing the impacts of climate change on seasonal hazards.”
BC Wildfire Service has been preparing for the wildfire season by improving recruitment, increasing First Nations bootcamps, providing specialized training, and investing $14 million in on-the-ground firefighting equipment, like trucks.
“The BC Wildfire Service is ready for whatever may come this wildfire season,” said Ravi Parmar, B.C.’s minister of forests, in the release.
●What can individuals do?
The BC Wildfire Service encourages people to prepare ahead of the wildfire season.
To protect their homes and communities from wildfire risk, people can:
．Remove dry leaves, pine needles, and branches from their roofs, gutters, and yards.
．Ensure there is space between buildings and anything that is flammable (like firewood and propane tanks).
．Move things like plastic toys and dog houses at least 10 metres from structures
．Maintain short lawns.
Further, the B.C. government is advising people to build an emergency kit with essential supplies, as well as a “grab-and-go” bag (something that is easy to take with you) for each household member, including pets. They suggest having a grab-and-go bag in your home, vehicle, and workplace.
“Now is also a good time to check existing emergency kit supplies and replace expired items, such as food and medications,” reads the release.
The government also encourages people to create a profile on Emergency Support Services now (before there’s an emergency), which provides short-term support during an evacuation.
Finally, having home or tenant insurance is a good practice to financially protect yourself during an emergency.
source: Daily Hive photo: BC Wildfire Service
