The Mayor of Clearwater is concerned about the lack of BC Wildfire staff stationed in the North Thompson, as a wildfire burned near his community this week.
Merlin Blackwell tells NL News he’s been told that all wildfire responders will come from Kamloops, about 90 minutes away. He says that is compared to a 15 minute response time to most fires if these initial attack teams were stations in Clearwater.
“Obviously, I’m hoping that the BC Wildfire Services reverses its decision. I hope they find a way to [station people here],” he said. “It is already dry out there. This is really challenging already to be in a situation where we’re barely into the real fire season. This is kind of a little scary at this point.”
“At this particular point, I think we are pretty much condemned to this unless BC Wildfire decides to solve the problem on their own.”
He says the BC Wildfire Service has told him they’re not able to put staff in Clearwater this year due to housing and staffing complications.
“There are lots of reasons why somebody may not want to stay in a town,” Blackwell added.
“Anything from the rental market to a toxic workplace. I mean, I don’t know the reasons and BC Wildfire has told me this without coming and asking the community for help on solving these issues.”
Blackwell plans to take his concerns to B.C. Public Safety Minister, Mike Farnworth, and others hoping for a ministerial review into the situation.
“[It’s because] I can’t leave something like this alone. This is the last thing I want to be talking about. I just don’t understand this decision,” Blackwell said. “We’ve got so many other problems in the world. This seems like a no brainer that crews would be stationed in Clearwater.”
Asked about those concerns, the BC Wildfire Service says it is trying to do what it can with a finite amount of resources.
“Physically where the crews are located is not as important as understanding that it is sort of a whole of community approach across the province of B.C. making sure that we put the best resources, the most appropriate resources onto those fires as quickly as possible and that they are supported with the resources they need,” Deputy Director, Brent Martin, said.
Martin says the BC Wildfire Service will also be working in partnership with local fire departments across the province, to ensure “that communities are getting the best service possible.”