Prince George, B.C. - Minister of Forests and Range, Pat Bell, says Government's review of the 2009 fire season supports continuous improvement of wildfire management in the province and reinforces the key role prevention plays in protecting people and property.

 

 

The 2009 fire season included 3,409 fires, 213 of which were in interface zones, leading to 27 evacuation orders, nine evacuation alerts and a record  wildfire aircraft flying time of over 53,500 hours.

 

Annual reviews are an integral part of every fire season, helping identify what processes worked and where there may be room for improvement. The 2009 review  helped verify that the current strategic direction for the Wildfire Management Branch is on the right track and the processes in place contributed to a successful outcome.

 

"This report is a timely reminder of why British Columbians must remain  vigilant in helping prevent wildfires heading into the 2010 fire season," said Bell. "More than 850 fires in 2009 were likely person-caused. Government is  doing everything possible to protect communities and forest assets, but we need people's co-operation to reduce the number of preventable fires."  

Identified successes evident during the 2009 season include:

 

* Greatly improved partnerships and working relationships among key players.

* Acquisition and management of structure protection units across the province.

* Improved information flow between fire command and the public.

* Effective allocation of resources through priority setting.

* Continued implementation of a comprehensive fuel management program that reduces risk to communities and assets.

 

The 2009 fire season review was completed by the Wildfire Management Branch with input from other branches of the Ministry of Forests and Range, provincial and federal ministries, local governments, partners, clients and the public.