Horgan on Human-Caused Wildfires
The Knox Mountain fire in Kelowna – photo submitted
Prince George, B.C. – Is it time to come down harder on those responsible for human-caused wildfires?
At least two wildfires this season – the Elephant Hill fire north of Cache Creek and the Knox Mountain fire in Kelowna – are believed to have been deliberately set.
In fact, a tip line was set up earlier this week by the RCMP (1-855-685-8788) to gather more information about the Elephant Hill fire – a blaze that started July 6 and has grown to over 93,00 hectares in size.
Last weekend, that fire forced the evacuation of Clinton, 70 Mile House and Green Lake plus additional areas southeast of Clinton yesterday.
According to the BC Wildfire Service there have been 884 fires since the season started April 1 – many of them human-caused.
“And while not all of those have causes ascribed to them, we’re fairly confident 358 of those were person caused,” says chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek.
“Typically by the end of the year we’re at a 60-40 ratio in terms of naturally occurring fires and person caused fires.”
He adds the most common types of human caused fires are related to open burning – be it backyard burns, industrial burns or campfires.
Others are the result of discarded cigarettes, sparks coming off railway tracks or from off-road vehicles (which is why a prohibition was put in place for the Cariboo, Kamloops and Southeast fire centre’s yesterday).
So, where does Premier John Horgan come down on all of this?
“We’re going to wait for the investigations to be completed before we pass judgment,” says Horgan.
But he notes people must be held responsible for their actions.
“I’ve said that as opposition leader and I say that as premier, if people are stupid enough to put whole communities and people’s lives at risk, because of their recklessness, there needs to be consequences and we’ll follow through to the fullest extent of the law should there be situations where that’s required.”
As of Aug.1, 2017 wildfires have claimed 305 structures in B.C. including 71 homes this season.
Comments
Hire some more regulators to regulate the regulators that are doing the regulating.
Ha Ha, good ‘un, LOL.
We DO need more on the frontlines ie: Forestry Enforcement and Compliance and a heck of a lot more Conservation Officers. Sadly lacking in both areas.
You can thank your liberals for their ineptness on this one!!
seems the data has changed, I seem to remember them saying earlier that all but a few of the fires were lightning caused…forget your job security, what is it , man or nature?
Why is Vancouver allowed fireworks during a province fire ban
Fireworks barge is in the middle of English Bay so almost zero chance of any fires being started.
…said the dummy that started the fire….
They said the smoke from the fires will add to the fire works effect. Well smoke and more smoke. La la land runs on different rules than the rest of us deplorables.
“… if people are stupid enough…”
“Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect…”
AXMAN they certainly aren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer??
The rules of the left in political correctness never apply to those that fly the banner of the left. That’s the number one rule of the left.
axman.
It is only politically correct to call someone stupid if you are backed by the Green! You my friend are not allowed
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