BC Wildfire Service update from Executive Director, Ian Meier

Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 7:51PM
Editor

As British Columbia moves through the core wildfire months of July and August, this fire season looks and feels different than most. The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional pressures and complications on wildfire management in B.C. and for our partner agencies throughout Canada and around the world.

The BC Wildfire Service has made several adaptations to standard procedures as guided by provincial health authorities and our internal Adaptation and Continuity team. In some cases, new procedures were developed to address concerns that weren’t covered by existing protocols.

Throughout this challenging time, the BCWS is committed to carrying out our mandate to: 

1. Deliver effective wildfire management and emergency response support on behalf of the Government of British Columbia
2. Protect lives and values at risk
3. Encourage sustainable, healthy, and resilient ecosystems

As British Columbians, we must all work together and take a shared responsibility to limit the negative impacts of wildfire and COVID-19 this summer. The BC Wildfire Service relies on the trust, cooperation and assistance of our partner agencies, industry, local authorities, First Nations and communities to effectively deliver our mandate.

The BC Wildfire Service remains committed to the relationships we have been building throughout B.C. We recognize that local authorities have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of their communities, perhaps more now than ever. The BC Wildfire Service will strive to have an open dialogue with all local authorities and communities that are impacted by wildfire response and is committed to minimizing the impact that its operations have on the communities in which it works.

Throughout the 2020 fire season, ensuring the safety, health and well-being of BC Wildfire Service employees and all British Columbians is the highest priority. The impact of decisions made will be carefully considered, operations will be adapted based on feedback received, and work will be completed together with communities with the goal of keeping everyone as safe and healthy as possible.

For more information about the adaptations made to help reduce the impact of BC Wildfire Service operations on the communities we serve, please refer to the attached information, which can be shared with the members of your community or organization.

Thank you,

Ian Meier
Executive Director 
BC Wildfire Service

For more information about this topic, please contact 250 312-3051.

Article originally appeared on Thetis Blog (https://www.thetisposts.ca/).