Shuswap Firestorm – The Last Straw Campaign Update
By Jim Cooperman
Since the packed meeting on November 23, much has occurred to bring our concerns about the wildfire to those groups and agencies who have the power to investigate and urge government to make the needed changes. The letter/petition with six complaints that was presented at the meeting eventually received over 2,200 signatures online (at change.org) with over 120 reasons for signing. It was presented to the Auditor General, the office of the Ombudsperson and to the Premier’s Task Fork on Emergencies.
Another petition (Reform BC Wildfire Response), prepared by wildfire experts that addresses the failings of the B.C. Wildfire Service and provides short- and long-term solutions, is now available to sign online. It has approximately 1,500 signatures and has also been presented to the Task Force and the Ombudsperson. Solutions include improving initial attack by contracting more air power and hiring more crews, minimizing using out-of-province crews and managers, utilizing local contractors to action fires, and re-establishing the Fire Warden system.
The Ombudspersons office has responded with a letter explaining how an investigator will be assigned to make an assessment about the complaints to determine if they will make an investigation. As of the end of December this assessment process has not begun.
A key development was the December 15 release of a powerful, investigative article in the Globe and Mail called Did it Backfire? by Jesse Winter. In it we learn that a few days after the BCWS did their aerial ignition, the B.C. Government Employee’s Union (BCGEU) wrote to the Forests Minister Bruce Ralston with concerns about how the ignition was handled and asked the forest service to work with the union on a joint investigation, given that their members were at risk.
Prior to this letter being sent, WorkSafe BC had already begun an investigation. The online Globe article also includes a video take by one of the five Brazilian firefighters trapped in a vehicle at the powerline for three hours as the out-of-control burn raged around them.
At the November meeting, Karl Bischoff also spoke about plans to train more firefighters in the North Shuswap. In December, he offered one-day basic chainsaw courses for two groups of twelve people each. Next spring, there is a plan to offer the S-100 firefighting courses as well with a certified instructor.
Efforts to spur more investigations that could lead to the changes we need will continue in January, including another meeting with the Forest Practices Board, as well as efforts to collaborate with the BCGEU. If the Ombudsperson assessment process begins, background materials will be provided. A North Shuswap Defence Fund has been established to cover the costs of the Freedom of Information request to the CSRD and the video of the Nov. 23 Presentation (on YouTube under my channel). Another project may be the creation of website devoted to the Shuswap Firestorm with an archive of articles, photos, and information about the wildfire.
See Shuswappassion.ca to read all the latest articles about the firestorm. Take action to prevent more wildfire devastation by signing the Reform BC wildfire response at change.org. Contact me if you have a story that needs to be told, more information about the fire or if you want to help with the campaign.
