Threat of Beetle Fire Could Make '06 One Long VERY Hot Summer

By 250 News

Brian Kemp is the Zone manager for the Prince George Fire Centre and says it is no longer a matter of wondering if there would be an "interface fire" where a forest fire moves into an area where there are 10-1,000 structures, Kemp says it is now a matter of when and where. 

(crown fire photo courtesy of Ministry of Forest and Range Protection Branch)

Five reps from the Prince George Fire Centre appeared before the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.  "The fact there are so many of us here to deliver the message should  be an indication of how serious this situation is" said Stan  Harvey, Senior Protection Officer with the Prince George Fire Centre. 

The Fire Centre has mapped out the regions within the District of Fraser-Fort George  which are at highest risk, and the  information is alarming. A series of  slides showed community after community where there are significant stands that are red, dead, and just waiting for a spark.  

It used to be thought inmature stands of trees could be used to provide a natural fire break as the pine beetle didn’t attack inmature stands.  That is no longer the case, as trees, young and old have fallen victim.

The safety concern is that in many areas, there is one road in to area residences, and in the event of a fire,  there is no alternate road out.  Norman Lake was mentioned as an example of the evacuation difficulties.

Kemp says   "Our priority  will be to get people out of the area" and the  focus should be to develop evacuation plans.  Plans are in the works to develop evacuation plans with some 50 communities.

The Prince George Fire Centre isn’t waiting for the worst to happen, as the weather heats up, the resources are boosted.  Kemp says last weekend when the hot dry conditions hit the area,  extra crews and equipment were brought in to be on standby, just in case.

Mike Dittaro, an expert  with the Fire Centre on the matter of Fuels Management says there are things that can be done, including developing an "inventory" of the threat so local governments can then set priorities on which areas should be dealt with first.  Dittaro also says there are some funding opportunities through the Union of BC Municipalities, and some  funds available through the Federal Government.

Kemp says there needs to be discussion among the Ministry of Forests, Local Governments, Aboriginal groups, companies doing the logging, so all involved, or who hold an interest, can work together to identify which areas could be harvested first in an effort to reduce the threat.

The Regional District’s Derek Bates says  some  evacuation plan development is already underway and while the District is able to share that information,  the Region doesn’t have the manpower capacity to "pull it all together".  The District has agreed to take part in a Regional Interface Action Committee which will try to pull together all stakeholders and identify the strategic threat areas.

The Fire Centre’s Mike Dittaro says there is federal funding available it is just a matter of stepping up to the plate with a plan and a request.

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