WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:32.359 Thank you for listening to Depiction's Media Radio. Welcome to Policy Rights to show 2 00:00:32.560 --> 00:01:02.759 about government policy and human rights. Welcome back to policy and Rights here in 3 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:08.120 Depictions Media Radio. I'm your host, Michael Clogs. We are seeing record 4 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:15.640 breaking temperatures around the world. At the same time, we're seeing some interesting 5 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:23.120 low temperatures, all of which can actually be attested to climate change. I 6 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:32.040 know that the focus, of course is temperature rising one point five degrees is 7 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:37.840 what we're actually talking A lot of people were talking about should we say that. 8 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:44.079 Even the Secretary General of the UN has been talking about how we have 9 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:49.079 to keep it at that and not let it go past there. But when 10 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:53.200 we look at the extreme weather patterns, a lot of it is based on 11 00:01:55.319 --> 00:02:07.439 Antarctic Antarctic ice. These ice fields at either pole actually control things like jet 12 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:14.879 streams and how weather patterns actually happen. So that in say Calgary, Alberta 13 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:21.719 in Canada, when they saw in the middle of July an ice storm and 14 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:32.879 freezing temperatures that cause traffic accidents and slicks and other dangers in that particular area, 15 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:43.280 it is actually attesting to that Arctic or Antarctic ice melting causing different weather 16 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:49.280 patterns to actually happen. Now there is some history behind this and that that 17 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:53.240 these weather patterns have been been studied by experts from more than thirty years, 18 00:02:53.319 --> 00:03:01.400 which means that the trend wasn't originally recognized as a trend and is now being 19 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:08.680 seen as a warming trend. So there's a lot going on. So there's 20 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:19.840 focus on wildfires. In the Xingdang province of China, they saw a record 21 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:32.599 breaking fifty two point two degrees centigrate over the sixteenth of July and the city 22 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:43.639 in Phoenix was above one hundred and ten degrees fahrenheit at the same time, 23 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:50.840 which Arizona maybe a little a little closer, but it is actually pushing their 24 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:58.560 their record limits of high temperatures. So there's a lot going on and a 25 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:04.000 lot that we need to actually look at. And the United Nations is issuing 26 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:15.599 water warnings and also talking about how there have been a numerous wildfire fire evacuations, 27 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:20.639 not only in North America, although the massive number of wildfires that have 28 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:28.040 gone across the Canada. In the United States, not only most people are 29 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:38.399 familiar with of course British Columbia, maybe Oregon and California having extreme wildfires it 30 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:44.920 has been pushing all the way across into areas like in Nova Scotia, New 31 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:54.000 England, in other areas in North America where they're seeing wildfires that they usually 32 00:04:54.040 --> 00:05:01.639 don't have a very big wildfire season. So what is really going on and 33 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:11.160 what needs to needs to happen along with this is kind of up to us 34 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:16.399 as people to actually investigate and figure things out. A large part of climate 35 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:21.279 change and climate action that we need and actions that we need to take is 36 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:30.480 how do we curb some of our consumerism, our need to buy stuff. 37 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:35.879 Do we really need to buy that stuff or can we actually curb it? 38 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:48.639 So why don't we listen to statements made by a Minister of environment in British 39 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:58.360 Columbia as they talk about the wildfire season that they're having going into a long 40 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:09.160 weekend celebration that might have to be curb because of the threat of wildfires. 41 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:21.720 Thank you so much, and good morning everyone. My name is Bowen, 42 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:28.879 Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and join you here today from the 43 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:32.519 territories of the Laquangan speaking people's, the Songhis and the squid Up First Nations. 44 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.959 I'm joined by my colleague Bruce Ralston a little bit of feedback there should 45 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:43.360 step back, all right. I am joined virtually by my colleague Bruce Ralston, 46 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:47.199 Minister Forces, who is in Camloops today, and Cliff Chapman, Director 47 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:51.560 of Wildfire Operations for BC Wildfire Service, who is also in cam Roots today. 48 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:56.399 Today we will be sharing an update on the current wildfire situation and the 49 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:00.759 drought. Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the 50 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:06.319 tragic death of a young man who lost his life fighting fires nearer Fort Saint 51 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:11.480 John on Friday. As I know is the case for many of you, 52 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.480 my heart sunk when I received this news. This young man was assisting the 53 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:21.680 BC Wildfire Service in protecting people from the Dawney Creek wildfire. British Columbians are 54 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:27.079 still reeling from the loss of Devon Gale and to go through this again is 55 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:31.199 heartbreaking on behalf of the province. I want to offer my deepest sympathies for 56 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:38.000 this young man's family, friends, colleagues and the entire wildfire fighting community. 57 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:43.079 I know that this is a difficult time and your province stands with you. 58 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:49.439 BC Wildfire Service, firefighters, contractors and international firefighters have an incredibly difficult job 59 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:55.639 and every day they go through heroic lengths to protect people in communities. From 60 00:07:55.639 --> 00:08:00.600 the bottom of my heart, thank you. As of the morning, there 61 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:05.319 are approximately five hundred and thirty people under an evacuation order and nine and over 62 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:11.120 nine thousand, five hundred people under an evacuation alert in BC. This includes 63 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:18.000 over five hundred properties under evacuation order and over forty one hundred properties under evacuation 64 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:22.959 alerts. Of note, over the weekend, the Ego Bluff wildfire crossed our 65 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:28.079 border from the United States, which triggered widespread evacuation orders and alerts in the 66 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:33.360 Regional District of Okanagan, Samilkamene and the city of SOYUS. The number of 67 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:41.399 properties on evacuation order and alert due to this wildfire has dropped considerably. Additionally, 68 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:46.639 yesterday, the Downtown Lake wildfire grew significantly, leading to evacuation orders and 69 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:54.559 alerts issued by the Squamish Lilouette Regional District. Over two hundred and twenty properties 70 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:58.399 are under evacuation order due to the wildfire. We are also aware that there 71 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:03.919 was impact to structures overnight and a full assessment will be completed when it is 72 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:09.120 safe to do so my thoughts are with everyone who has impacted during this challenging 73 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:13.879 time. Emergency support services are readily available to lend a helping hand to those 74 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:20.879 who have been evacuated and need assistance. Historically, August is known to be 75 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:24.960 one of the most challenging months for the wildfire season here in British Columbia. 76 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:30.279 I want to assure everyone that we have among the most skilled, professional and 77 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:35.159 dedicated teams of firefighters and emergency management personnel in the world. And that said, 78 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:39.840 it is still crucial that people take steps to be prepared and to know 79 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:46.000 where to get verified information on evacuation orders and evacuation alerts. Preparedness is a 80 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:50.960 team effort. We must all take part. First Nations and local governments issue 81 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:56.759 evacuation orders and alerts on recommendation from the BC Wildfire Service. Local governments and 82 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:03.279 First Nations will provide information on evacuation roots and evacuation reception centers. People must 83 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:09.759 register and attend an evacuation reception center in order to access these services, which 84 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:16.120 includes everything from supports for accommodation, food transportation, to taking care of other 85 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:20.960 essential needs that you may have. People may preregister with Emergency Support Services online 86 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:28.159 using the Evacuate Registration and Assistance Tool at EESS dot gov, DOTC dot ca 87 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:33.679 A. Additionally, information on evacuation alerts and orders is amplified by the province 88 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:39.960 through the Emergency INFOBC website. If your community is placed on an evacuation order, 89 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:46.000 you must evacuate the area immediately. I'd now like to turn your attention 90 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:50.159 to drought. July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. We are 91 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:56.240 experiencing the impacts of climate change. Right now, twenty three of our province's 92 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:01.480 thirty four water basins are in a drought level four or drought level five classification. 93 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:07.159 This continues to be a severe situation. We all have a role to 94 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:11.120 play in conserving water to make sure everyone has access to water when they need 95 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:16.159 it, and it's important that our extreme drought situation is not overshadowed by the 96 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:22.039 ongoing wildfire situation. We are seeing an increasing number of people, businesses, 97 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:28.919 and communities face challenges because of drought. Our wildfire is also being impacted. 98 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:35.919 Part of me, our wild life is also being impacted. Warmer environments due 99 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:41.080 to climate change have prolonged the lifespan of moths that feed on hemlocks and Douglas 100 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:46.279 furs, allowing them to inflict a more severe impact on local trees. I'm 101 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:50.919 hearing of stories of bears wandering into communities looking for food because of the drought's 102 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:56.840 impact on barry crops. These impacts are real and substantial, and we're having 103 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.919 to put in restrictions to protect our waterways and eco systems. On Monday, 104 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:07.360 we enacted protections for the fish population in the Kutneys due to the increasing temperature 105 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:13.360 of water in the afternoon and evening. Recreational fishing in specific Kutney waters will 106 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:18.480 be closed from two pm to midnight daily until September tenth. While stress on 107 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:24.120 the fish population is primarily caused by heat, waters with lower flows, as 108 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:28.279 is the case during drought conditions, generally heat up quicker than waters with higher 109 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:33.840 flows, making it harder for released fish to recover. As the extreme drought 110 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:39.279 conditions continue, we expect to see different challenges arise. Farmers and ranchers are 111 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:45.240 among those with the most immediate challenges. The province is working with the agricultural 112 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:50.519 community as well as the federal government to support BC producers. Just last week, 113 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:54.720 Minister Alexis launched the new Access to Feed program delivered in partnership with the 114 00:12:54.759 --> 00:13:01.039 BC Cattleman's Association to help connect suppliers who have hay and feed producers who need 115 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.759 it. Access to water by food producers is crucial for food security for all 116 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:09.480 of us. We know how important access to water is for the producers who 117 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.039 grow our food, and the province is working to find ways to limit water 118 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:18.759 usage in government facilities and is working closely with large businesses and industries to reduce 119 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:24.879 water usage. We're also working with municipal partners and indigenous communities to support their 120 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:31.720 local water management. Escalating water restrictions are difficult, but they are also necessary 121 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:37.840 decisions for local governments and first nations. It's the cumulative effort of people and 122 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:43.080 businesses that will have a meaningful impact on water conservation. That's why it's incredibly 123 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:50.960 important that everyone, including businesses, follow all local water restrictions. Every drop 124 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:56.279 counts. This Friday, Metro Vancouver will be moving to Stage two of watering 125 00:13:56.440 --> 00:14:03.519 restrictions. This means lawn watering will be prohibited. Using a sprinkler for trees, 126 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:09.159 flowers and shrubs is allowed between five am and nine am. This is 127 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:13.360 the first time Metro Vancouver has raised restrictions beyond level one since twenty fifteen. 128 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:18.519 Now, restrictions are different from community to community, so if you are outside 129 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:22.519 of Metro Vancouver, or if you're inside as well, please make sure that 130 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:28.639 you familiarize yourself with your local water restrictions and follow the rules in your area. 131 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:31.960 I do want to thank local governments and regional districts for taking this rout 132 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.799 seriously and putting in restrictions when necessary. And I'd like to again encourage communities 133 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.759 to increase their water restrictions because now is the time. I know many communities 134 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:48.159 are seeing healthy reservoir levels right now, but we are not sure how much 135 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.799 rain we will see in the fall. We must be prepared to expect there 136 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:56.960 our reservoirs may not recharge through the levels that we're used to. Lastly, 137 00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:01.559 i'd like to thank people and businesses for following these restrictions. We are in 138 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:05.159 this together. Thank you. And now i'd like to turn it over to 139 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:11.919 Minister Bruce Ralston. Thank you, the Minister mow. Good morning everyone. 140 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:16.519 I'm Bruce Rolston, the Minister of Forests. I'm speaking to you today from 141 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:22.399 the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Center here in Camelos. I'm honored to be here on 142 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:31.039 the topshop the territory located within the lands of the Shoepa Nation. First and 143 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:37.519 foremost, let me offer to my deepest condolences to the family, friends and 144 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:43.080 colleagues of the young man who lost his life assisting the VC Wildfire Service near 145 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:48.919 Fort Saint John on Friday. This tragic loss is felt across the fire fighting 146 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:56.600 community and beyond. It's heartbreaking to lose another frontline bureau. Firefighters make extraordinary 147 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:06.039 sacrifices to protect communities and people. As Minister Mah noted, August tends to 148 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:10.279 be one of the most active months for wildfires here in British Columbia and the 149 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:15.039 second most active month for lightning strikes after July. We will see very hot 150 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:21.639 and dry conditions that August that can lead to increased wildfire activity when there is 151 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:26.879 lightning or human caused fire starts. Our experts at the BC Wildfire Service will 152 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:32.879 be monitoring closely for potential lightning in the forecast, and I want to thank 153 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:38.159 all British Columbians who are doing their part to prevent human cause fires and reduced 154 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:47.759 wildfire risks. This month also represents the fourth consecutive month of elevated wildfire activity 155 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:52.200 in British Columbia and a breath of start to the wildfire season and the Prince 156 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:56.600 George Fire Center in the spring has meant steady work for our wildfire cruise and 157 00:16:56.759 --> 00:17:03.519 support personnel since May. As Minister Moss said, our BC Wildfire Service firefighters 158 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:10.119 are among the best in the world. They are true professionals who have sacrificed 159 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:15.920 time with their friends and family to do difficult, unforgiving work in extremely challenging 160 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:22.680 conditions. I'm going to offer my sincere gratitude and appreciation on behalf of all 161 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:30.000 British Columbias for everything they do to keep us safe. There are currently three 162 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:36.559 hundred and sixty one wildfires burning across British Columbia. Thirteen of those are wildfires 163 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:41.559 of note. Since April first of this year, one five hundred and seventy 164 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:48.240 six wildfires have burned a total of one point five million hectares. In recent 165 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:52.200 days, many of the wildfires of note in the Northwest Prince George and Cariboot 166 00:17:52.200 --> 00:18:00.640 Fire Centers have been downgraded, as have their associated evacuation alerts and or in 167 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:04.519 the Camloops Fire Center, BC Wildfare Service personnel are working around the clock on 168 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:11.559 the Eagle Bluff wildfire, located west of the Sayers. This wildfire started to 169 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:15.799 south of the border in the United States and its approximately three thousand hectars in 170 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:21.519 size. On the Canadian side of the border. There are currently sixty one 171 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:26.079 firefighters, six helicopters, eleven pieces of heavy equipment, and the Structure Protection 172 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:33.440 Team working on the Eagle Bluff wildfire under the command of an incident management team. 173 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:38.799 On the lower East Adams Lake wildfire twenty one kilometers north of Chase near 174 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:45.279 Camloops on the east side of Adams Lake, Extensive helicopter bucketing over the last 175 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:52.079 eight days has significantly reduced the threat to communities south of the wildfire. The 176 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:56.640 Downton Lake wildfire, located ten kilometers west of Goldbridge on the north side of 177 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:03.720 Downton Lake, which is north of Pemberton and south of Lilouette in that region, 178 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.799 has seen growth over the last twenty four hours. The fire is estimated 179 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:14.240 to be nearly eighteen hundred cactus in size, and fifty personnel are responding to 180 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:19.079 the fire. Approximately two hundred and thirty properties are under evacuation order and about 181 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:26.960 sixty properties are under evacuation alert. We are aware of impacts to structures along 182 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:32.759 the southwest side of Gun Lake overnight. The Squamish Lilouette Regional District will be 183 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:37.880 assessing conducting rapid damage assessments as soon as his estates to do so and will 184 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:45.160 release that information when available. PC Wildfire Services coordinating with this Squamish Lilouette Regional 185 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:51.359 District to ensure this happens as soon as possible. Property owners in the region 186 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:56.519 are encouraged to contact the Regional District directly. On the Rossmoor Lake wildfire, 187 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:03.000 located ten kilometers south of us Here and Cameleots, smoke and small columns have 188 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:07.240 been highly visible in recent days. This smoke is due to increased wildfire activity 189 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:14.920 along the northwest and southern flanks of the wildfire. Yesterday, air tankers and 190 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:19.720 skimmers were highly visible to residents of Camlets while they supported ground operations. But 191 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:26.119 let me stress this recent activity is not is not threatening Highway five, Black 192 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:33.440 Lejeune Hamlets or adjacent communities. There are currently one hundred and forty three firefighters, 193 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:38.960 eight helicopters, thirty four pieces of heavy equipment, structure protection teams working 194 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:45.960 on this fire under the command of an incident management team on the Saint Mary's 195 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:51.200 Wildfire. Thanks to our dedicated firefighters, this fire has now been downgraded from 196 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:55.640 out of control to being held. With the help of contract crews, air 197 00:20:55.720 --> 00:21:00.359 crews and heavy equipment operators, we were able to bring the under control. 198 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.599 I'd like to extend my thanks to our partners and local community in the area 199 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:11.400 for their invaluable support of our firefighting crews. Let me also acknowledge that the 200 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:18.279 Saint Mary's River wildfire had significant impacts for the community of Saint Mary's Indian Band. 201 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:25.400 Despite their hardship, the community welcome to BC Wildfire Service while also supporting 202 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:30.720 each other. I want to thank the Akham community for their graciousness, warmth 203 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:36.720 and kindness in such a trying time. As I mentioned, July and August 204 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:41.440 represent our pore wildfire season, but we are prepared and have the necessary resources 205 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:47.519 in place. They were over eight hundred wildfire personnel from out of country and 206 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:52.880 two hundred members of the Canadian Armed Forces supporting the local wildfire effort. This 207 00:21:53.039 --> 00:22:00.839 international support augments the more than two thousand BC Wildfire staff and fifteen hundred contract 208 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:07.519 to US now already responding to the situation here in our province. I'd also 209 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:14.079 like to recognize and thank people in British Columbia for their efforts to reduce human 210 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:22.039 cause to wildfires this season. Your diligence and attention to current prohibitions and bands 211 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:26.480 significantly supports the wildfire effort. It does make a real difference and keeps our 212 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:33.359 crews focused on the hundreds of naturally caused wildfires that are typical at this time 213 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:37.680 of year. Many of you have also taken the necessary steps that makes your 214 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:41.599 homes and properties fire smart. As we begin to see more of wildfire in 215 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:47.279 the southern half of British Columbia, take time to familiarize yourself with the fire 216 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:52.359 Smart Last Minute Wildfire Checklist. Well, this checklist won't replace the actions you 217 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:56.160 should take in advance, it is useful to have on hand at this time 218 00:22:56.200 --> 00:23:00.680 of year. To check out this resource another great fire smart tips, visit 219 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:08.119 the fire Smart BC website. I'm also urging everyone to continue to report wildfire 220 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:15.480 using the Wildfire app or calling Star five five five five from a cell phone, 221 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:19.319 even if you may believe the wildfire has already been reported. Please do 222 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:25.839 not hesitate to contact us. The information you provide may be critical to BC 223 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:30.680 Wildfire Service operations. Lastly, I want to acknowledge that this has been a 224 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:37.200 long and difficult wildfire season and as far from over, this is extremely challenging 225 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:44.640 for communities and people. It's extremely stressful living day to day with smoke or 226 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:48.519 near a fire or being on an evacuation alert or order. On behalf of 227 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:53.640 all British plumb he thank you to the firefighters, first responders and emergency management 228 00:23:53.640 --> 00:24:00.440 teams who are working tirelessly to prepare and respond to these challenges on O and 229 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:06.799 let me assure British Columbians we are working hard to ensure communities are prepared and 230 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:11.880 have the supports they need. Our number one focus is keeping people's safe. 231 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:17.559 Thank you. I'll now turn it back to Minstal. Thank you. I'll 232 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:21.839 now turn it back to Minstal. Thank you so much. Minister Ralston, 233 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:26.160 I invite Cliff Chapman from the BC Ball of our Service to speak now. 234 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:33.839 Minister Ralston, I asked just to speak briefly prior to questions this morning, 235 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.599 because we are getting a lot of questions, a lot of interest in how 236 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:41.359 our organization is doing and how the people that are supporting our organization are doing 237 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:47.160 obviously with the tragic loss of life in the fire community and the BC as 238 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:52.079 well as the Northwest territories over the last three weeks. We appreciate the concern 239 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:56.640 of how our organization is doing, and I wanted to just address it before 240 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.839 questions and then happy to answer questions afterwards. From a personal side, I've 241 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:06.759 been in this organization for twenty one years. I started as a firefighter as 242 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:11.160 a seventeen year old kid and have worked my way through the organization to now 243 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:15.880 where I am the director of provincial Operations for DC Welfare Service. I have 244 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:22.720 never felt the heaviness that we are feeling this season with the tragic loss of 245 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:29.160 two individuals in DC on fires, and we've certainly appreciated the condolences and the 246 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:32.359 support from the public as well as from the media that are in the room 247 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:36.920 and on the line today, and we appreciate your questions around how we're doing 248 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:41.000 and how our staff are feeling. The truth is it's heavy and our people 249 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:47.720 are continuing to show up every day to support the firefighting effort on your ground, 250 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:52.839 and it's a challenging year for the entire wildfire community, the national fire 251 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:59.319 community, and the international community. We have received condolences that offers from support 252 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:03.119 from around the world that we thank everybody for that. The loss of life 253 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:08.599 is obviously traffic and something that we haven't experienced a great deal in BC over 254 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:14.359 the past decade or two and it's not something that we want to experience moving 255 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:19.359 forward. The truth is the humans are the center of an emergency, whether 256 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:22.880 that's the people who are impacted or the people who are there trying to limit 257 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:27.640 the impact that being. The VC Wildfire Service and all of the contractors and 258 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:32.880 support staff that we have around. Over the last number of years, PC 259 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:38.640 Weldfire Service has put a significant effort into holistic health for our staff. Total 260 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:44.839 worker health is something that we are passionate about in wildfire. We've done initiatives 261 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:48.759 to support resiliency, mental health, emotional health and physical health for our staff, 262 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:56.920 but it's not enough and we need to continue the challenge with people focused. 263 00:26:56.960 --> 00:27:00.960 And it's not a challenge, it's an opportunity with people full because work 264 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:03.720 and initiatives to look after the responders. They're out there trying to look after 265 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:08.160 the communities and the resources NBC is there is no finished fund. We need 266 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:11.400 to continue to learn from other agencies. We need to continue to learn from 267 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:15.799 our own people and their experiences to put programs in place for our staff so 268 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:19.960 that they continue to feel the support that they are feeling from public, from 269 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:23.400 the media, and from our organization over the course of the last number of 270 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:30.680 the peaks. Right now, if you're to ask the question of how we're 271 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:34.079 doing, the answer is we're doing okay. It is heavy. There is 272 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:38.720 a lot of grief within the organization and beyond. And as I said, 273 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:42.640 we are continuing to show up, and we are continuing as an organization and 274 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:48.839 I think as a population NBC to wrap around the BC Weldfare service to support 275 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:53.880 staff that are supporting US contractors, community members, to show that they are 276 00:27:53.960 --> 00:28:00.359 loved and that their work is appreciated across this province. It's not easy work. 277 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:03.519 These people are leaving their families, they're leaving their livelihoods to go and 278 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:11.279 support communities efforts in the fighting in DC right now and right now, we 279 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:15.079 won't know until the end of the season sort of the longer term in backs 280 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:18.440 and so our focus is obviously on response and continuing to search to these fires. 281 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:23.559 But we need to continue to monitor how our staff we're doing and look 282 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:26.880 at programs as we move into the fall for the months and years ahead. 283 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.559 So thank you for giving me a moment today. I just wanted to talk 284 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:34.160 about that, and we are happy to provide information through a media request into 285 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:37.880 our communication scheme on some of the specific programs that we have put in place 286 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:42.720 in DC over the last number of years. Thank you, minister. I'll 287 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:47.599 go back to you. Thank you so much for them. I'll go back 288 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:52.119 to you. Thank you so much for that, Cliff, and for the 289 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:59.599 very important reminder to everyone that when we're fighting ball fires, the people at 290 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:03.519 the front of the line, they are not nameless, faceless entities. They 291 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:08.920 are people who are loved and love and have community and families and friends that 292 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:12.640 that they all want to go home too safely. And we're so grateful for 293 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:18.640 the work of every single person on those lines. We'll now go to questions. 294 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:23.559 We do have personnel from the River Forecast Center, BC Wildfire Service, 295 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:29.160 Minister Ministry of Forest, Ministry of Emergency Management, Climate Readiness, as well 296 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:38.640 as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to help answer questions as well the working 297 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:42.880 Yeah, thank you as a reminded to media on the line please press throng 298 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:48.599 ONECE entered que one question and they follow up. Our first question comes from 299 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:55.039 the fund Shannon Patterson, CTV, Vancouver. Oh, Hi there, This 300 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:57.920 question is for Quick Happen, just sort of tiggy dock on what you were 301 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:03.200 just talking about the tragic loss of both Sacnews and Devin Gale. Can you 302 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:07.599 talk about a little bit about the danger, the real danger that the men 303 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:11.880 and women who choose to work as wildland firefighters face doing this job. What 304 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:14.599 makes it dangerous, What are the perils that are out there, and what 305 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:18.039 kind of training do they get before they head out into the back country firefighting 306 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:22.200 to try to prevent tragedies like the one who Sweeve seen. For that question, 307 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:26.640 you know, I think I could probably take a significant amount of time 308 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:30.799 to kind of talk about the dangers and just being in the back country in 309 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:36.440 any profits or any jurisdiction. And obviously we provide our staff with the level 310 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:40.960 of training so that they can manage and force the potential hazards that are in 311 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:45.000 the field. But then you add on the next layer of the actual conditions 312 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:48.079 that we're facing in VC right now. We've been doing these media availabilities. 313 00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:52.759 Now for the last number of weeks, we continue to hear about the impacts 314 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:57.759 of drought, the impacts of fire season, and those add another layer of 315 00:30:57.839 --> 00:31:03.519 danger. As you know, when you consider an evacuation order for a community, 316 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:07.400 is a community is leaving due to the threat of wildfire, and DC 317 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:12.359 Wildfire Service and the support from other agencies and contractors are are going the other 318 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:17.359 way towards that response and trying to protect that community, and so there are 319 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:22.640 inherent dangers with that. Obviously, we have a significant training portfolio within VC 320 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:27.359 Wildfire Service. From the moment that you get hired and as you work your 321 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:33.200 way through the ranks of wildfire you you continue to get additional training, training 322 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:37.240 like danger tree training to be able to assess and understand if the tree is 323 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:41.480 safe for dangerous as you enter a fire seam based on how that tree looks 324 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:45.359 and how it sounds, and being able to assess the roots of such a 325 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:49.839 tree. So there's danger tree training, there's there's obviously a creation related safety 326 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:55.079 training and maybe a capit there. There's a lot of training, and I 327 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:57.279 would ask you know, our palms team can follow up with sort of a 328 00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:01.119 list of all the training that our staff go through. But the dangers are 329 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:05.839 real. I think we've seen with the fire and issueous and some of the 330 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:10.319 coverage that we saw from that fire is fire is extremely aggressive with the conditions 331 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:15.519 that we have right now, and when that fire came over the border, 332 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:20.079 we saw what we refer to as ranked five six fire, which there isn't 333 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:23.319 we can't put humans in front of that fire, but that fire is extremely 334 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:28.839 dangerous and it is running. It is moving so fast that our people have 335 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:32.559 obviously significant training on what to know about the weather, what to know about 336 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:37.599 fire behavior, and when is the time to pull back based on the conditions 337 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:43.720 that they see. And so yeah, the list is fairly long talk in 338 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:46.920 terms of the dangers, and I appreciate the question, but I think in 339 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:51.359 a year like this year, as we see one of the worst droughts INBC, 340 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:55.079 we're continuing to learn as well as as we experience these fires what the 341 00:32:55.160 --> 00:33:00.039 impacts of drought has to our safety to what they can do are like actually 342 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:09.480 undergrown, what the conditions are like actually on the grown follow Shannon. Yeah, 343 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:14.400 discusion is for Conny Chapman about watering restrictions. Can you tell us it's 344 00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:19.880 the first stage that we've seen of watering restrictions are having an impact and obviously 345 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:22.599 not enough of an impact to prevent going to the next stage. And again, 346 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:25.319 just why is it so important that we all follow these restrictions thank is 347 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:30.480 a great question. So we are seeing benefits from the voluntary reductions that are 348 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:35.160 happening. So keeping your mind, local governments have requested the watering restrictions and 349 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:39.559 those local governments are definitely seeing benefits within their system and supply from those restrictions 350 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:43.960 that are being put in place. Furthermore, the province has been asking water 351 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:47.480 licensees to reduce use on a voluntary basis as best they can, and we 352 00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:52.480 have been having some great success within systems, seeing systems be able to maintain 353 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:59.680 and fold at those those flows that are able to support the fisheries, habitat 354 00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:05.359 and these potic ecosystem um. Moving forward, it's critical that we continue down 355 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:09.679 down this path of being conscious and cautious as to how we utilize and where 356 00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:14.000 we utilize the water. Every drop, as we've heard ministered their moss say 357 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:19.599 counts and definitely the work that is underway is having a positive, positive impact 358 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:30.480 in several watersheds in several watersheds. The second question comes from Avon Maycofer Global 359 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:39.119 use a question about the gun Make fire. Excuse me, were there any 360 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:44.760 structural protection crews that were able to get in and deal with people's homes or 361 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:49.679 was the fire moving too quickly for that? Cliff, I think that's a 362 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:54.039 question for you. He could go ahead. Thank you for the question. 363 00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:58.800 Sorry, I couldn't tell if I was fun muted or not. Yeah, 364 00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:04.480 we did have structure actual personnel on the gun Lake fire. Whether or not 365 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:07.199 we got apparatus on every structure, I can't confirm right now, but we 366 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:22.079 can confirm after the call today. Follow up are yeah, and just a 367 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:28.360 general question about gun Lake, just considering its remoteness, Can someone just talk 368 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:34.400 to me about the difficulty in fighting a fire that moves that quickly in such 369 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:42.280 a remote area? Go ahead. Started struggling to unneed today. Um. 370 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:45.440 Yeah, And it's not just gun Lake. I think if you look at 371 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:49.039 the fires that we have in the Countless Fire Center right now, with the 372 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:53.119 two Adams Lake fires in the vicinity of Adams Lake as well as there's a 373 00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:59.360 couple other fires in the Lilouette area, and it's deep, it's rocky terrain. 374 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:04.400 The terrain features are extremely challenging to be able to utilize heavy equipment. 375 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:09.360 Even our aviation FLEEP has challenges being able to drop effectively when you're in that 376 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:15.840 steep terrain. And I think the third piece around many of our fires over 377 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:19.679 the last number of days and potentially over the next coming couple of days is 378 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:25.400 wind. We're seeing quite a significant wind every afternoon and sometimes lasting through into 379 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:30.519 the evening as we saw last night. And that wind just it has the 380 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:34.199 ability with the slope to support it, the steep slope to support it, 381 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:40.760 to really drive a fire very very quickly, and operation suppression operations become very 382 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:47.400 very challenged and at times we don't win that challenge. So challenging, access, 383 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:52.559 challenging to use heavy equipment to build control lines that we can work off 384 00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:57.199 of. And obviously the weather conditions and the terrain features allow that fire to 385 00:36:57.760 --> 00:37:10.639 potentially run at a fairly fast pace quality black press media. So hi there. 386 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:15.280 I have a couple of questions specific to the Saint Mary's River fire, 387 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:21.119 which is now thankfully being held after a lot of incredible work from a technical 388 00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:29.400 and operational standpoint, with such a large wildfire burning near First Nations community now 389 00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:34.599 that it's being held. I'm just curious what those area residents can expect from 390 00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:40.199 a BC Wildfire Service operational standpoint as we go into the coming days and weeks 391 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:45.199 and possibly months in terms of getting that fire from being held to under control 392 00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:52.199 to hopefully being completely extinguished. We'll stay with you, Cliff, go ahead, 393 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:58.039 Yeah, I think I understand your question is is that we'll still continue 394 00:37:58.079 --> 00:38:00.480 to see a presence on a fire that gets change from status from out of 395 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:07.000 control to under control or being held, and that is our goal is to 396 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:12.159 continue to make sure we have trigger points identified so if there is a weather 397 00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:16.519 event coming in that we can have the appropriate resources if we believe that fire 398 00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:22.400 may pop back up and challenge our containment lines, so we won't see every 399 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:27.519 resource off of that fire. But obviously we also need to prioritize the rest 400 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:30.079 of the fires that are burning into province. And getting a fire to being 401 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:36.760 held is a significant achievement considering the conditions that we see in the southeast portion 402 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:39.280 of the province over the course of the last two weeks, and we don't 403 00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:45.599 want the Saint Mary's River fire obviously to get new life and challenge our containment 404 00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:50.119 lines, so no different than any other fire that we would change the status 405 00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:53.400 from being held or to being held or under control. It is obviously our 406 00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:57.519 desire to keep it that way and eventually be able to call it out, 407 00:38:57.559 --> 00:39:00.519 which is a little more challenging with the issues that we're seeing right now in 408 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:06.440 the forecasting conditions for the next two weeks. These fires are quite large, 409 00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:09.719 they have made a significant impact on the land base, and there is still 410 00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:14.199 potential for the you know, a little smoke in the middle of that fire 411 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:17.159 with a little bit of wind to be able to pick up and see some 412 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:22.320 smoke popping off of that fire doesn't mean that it's challenging the containment lines, 413 00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:27.280 but it will be visible likely for the coming days and weeks ahead, and 414 00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:31.000 we will continue to see a response presence from DC Wildfire Service on the fire. 415 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:39.679 From DC Wildfire Service on the fire a lot, Trevor, Yeah, 416 00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:45.559 thank you for that. This one is probably for for Minister mah Just wondering 417 00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:49.960 if you can sort of outline your communications with the ACAM leadership over the last 418 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:57.599 two weeks and what role the province will play in helping the community recover from 419 00:39:57.639 --> 00:40:02.159 this fire. In the coming months. Absolutely, we are in contact with 420 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:08.599 ACAM leadership and the Community Emergency Management Climate Readiness has spun up a recovery team 421 00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:15.440 that will work with our partners including First Nations Health Authority, Indigenous Services Canada, 422 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:21.840 the local community, First Nations, Emergency Support Services and basically all of 423 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:28.039 the partners are involved in a situation like this to help assess and determine what 424 00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:36.679 next steps are required in order to move the community towards recovery. Next question 425 00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:43.400 comes from Joel Ballad, CBC News. Hey, thank you for taking these 426 00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:47.280 questions. Can we start off with perhaps this is best for Minister mar perhaps 427 00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:52.480 Cliff, but can you give us a sense of what the wildfire season has 428 00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:58.039 cost the province so far this year. We do know that we are in 429 00:40:58.079 --> 00:41:04.119 the midst of a very challenging far season. We've currently seen about one point 430 00:41:04.119 --> 00:41:09.480 five million hectares of forests burned so far, and previous to this year, 431 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:15.599 the most we sell burned in an entire year was one point three to five 432 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:20.880 million hectares. As the wildfires begin to move further south, we will see 433 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:28.159 more populations impacted as well, which means the increased likelihood of more evacuation alerts, 434 00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:34.679 more evacuation orders, more impacts on individuals and families and those communities. 435 00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:40.280 We will continue to do what it takes and to spend whatever it takes to 436 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:46.119 fight these wildfires and support communities through these evacuations. Emergency support services are available 437 00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:51.880 to people who are evacuated and need those supports as well. I'll open it 438 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:57.719 up to see if either Minister Ralston or Cliff Chapman would like to add some 439 00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:04.039 further comments if they have any updated numbers. Stress that there is no upper 440 00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:09.760 financial limit which we would bang agae if the fire seven continues to deterial. 441 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:19.239 The province is committed to depend and bather the resources to do whatever it takes 442 00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:24.199 to keep the public of British Columbia states. So people need not worry about 443 00:42:24.760 --> 00:42:30.519 running out of the budgetary needs to fight wildfires here in British Columbia. And 444 00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:36.800 that's a commitment of the premiers made and the entire government is made. I 445 00:42:36.800 --> 00:42:44.320 would also say that the Wildfire Service this year, in the budget process moved 446 00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:50.800 to becoming a year round service and that that decision was made in the budget 447 00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:57.639 process this year, and I think we hired an unprecedented number of new firefighters 448 00:42:57.639 --> 00:43:05.079 this year for at the Welcour service through over three hundred and fifty and the 449 00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:10.880 advantage of having a year round services that people then have the certainty that they 450 00:43:10.920 --> 00:43:16.440 have employment year round. It becomes not simply a seasonal job where it gears 451 00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:23.840 up in May or June and you're you're laid off in October or November. 452 00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:30.519 So that I think is the future of the BC weld Our service and that 453 00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:36.239 advanced preparation is really important. So we've made the government has made a major 454 00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:39.639 commitment to the service and to the protection of the people in property appreciate, 455 00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:50.320 people in property appreciated. Last question comes from Lauren Collins, Black Press Media. 456 00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:57.280 Right. I think my question would be Foreign Minister maw. I was 457 00:43:57.320 --> 00:44:00.960 just wondering if the province has any more plans to take steps to protect wild 458 00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:07.119 light, like with the reduced angling hours and acoutment. So I'll begin with 459 00:44:07.159 --> 00:44:10.960 a few comments and then turn it over to Connie Chapman and the Minister Ministry 460 00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:19.159 of Force. We are assessing the drought situation significant very closely, and different 461 00:44:19.159 --> 00:44:23.719 streams, different communities will see different impacts. Different ecological systems will also experience 462 00:44:23.760 --> 00:44:30.880 different impacts. We will not hesitate to issue additional orders if required. But 463 00:44:30.960 --> 00:44:35.719 Connie Chapman, maybe you have some comments on this particular question. So, 464 00:44:35.760 --> 00:44:37.880 as Minister Moth said, we are looking at all the options and all the 465 00:44:37.880 --> 00:44:43.719 tools under the different pieces of the legislation that pertain within the current situation. 466 00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:50.840 As we've discussed before, we will take action with utilizing temporary protection orders under 467 00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:54.639 the Water Sustainability Act to really protect that aquatic ecosystem and the fisheries populations. 468 00:44:55.239 --> 00:45:00.840 We do have a number of subject matter expertise looking at some of our most 469 00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:07.079 critical systems in determining what their needs may be, and we may see in 470 00:45:07.360 --> 00:45:09.639 the future, depending on the out console of the analysis and so forth, 471 00:45:09.679 --> 00:45:17.079 additional additional orders either under the Water Sustainability Act or other actions under different pieces 472 00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:22.559 of legislation that may ProTeam to fish or so forth, protein to fish or 473 00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:31.000 so forth. Follow up, Lauren, Yes, what else can the public 474 00:45:31.079 --> 00:45:37.360 do to limit some of the impact or encounters with wildlife like the bears? 475 00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:44.719 That's actually a good question. Someone from the Ministry of for US might be 476 00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:49.039 able to offer some more tips there, but certainly members of the public should 477 00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:53.719 not be interacting with wildlife should not be leaving food out for wildlife. It 478 00:45:53.880 --> 00:45:59.280 is important that if you're in an area where you are likely to encounter wildlife, 479 00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:05.280 that your garbage junior recycling is is stored properly, that you're not leaving 480 00:46:05.400 --> 00:46:10.280 that kind of food out for wildlife to access. These are the kinds of 481 00:46:10.440 --> 00:46:17.039 steps that are important regardless of whether we are in a drought situation or not. 482 00:46:17.639 --> 00:46:25.119 And I know that the Conservation Office Service provides public safety messaging for wildlife. 483 00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:29.000 I don't know, Peter Brock if if you're on the line, if 484 00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:34.000 you have any of that messaging available or if we should follow up. Must 485 00:46:34.119 --> 00:46:38.559 imagine, yeah, I should mentioned Minister captured that very well, including all 486 00:46:38.559 --> 00:46:43.079 the precautions and the public should be taking. So I don't have anything to 487 00:46:43.079 --> 00:46:47.400 add And certainly, as the Minister mentioned, Conservation Officer Service is the best 488 00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:52.519 place to seek out some of their public safety messaging and some of the kind 489 00:46:52.559 --> 00:46:57.559 of advertising campaigns they do on wildlife to protect the public. So there's lots 490 00:46:57.559 --> 00:47:00.679 out there on that, and we can certainly follow up and provide the additional 491 00:47:00.679 --> 00:47:05.039 detail for you. Thank you. Provide the additional detail for you, Thank 492 00:47:05.079 --> 00:47:08.159 you. It looks like we have a few more questions from the phone. 493 00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:16.519 Next question comes from Brianna Charlie Boys Kenny Dean Press Great, thanks so much. 494 00:47:16.559 --> 00:47:22.960 I'm just wondering if someone can confirm how many structures have been lost at 495 00:47:22.039 --> 00:47:29.679 gun Lake and then to that point, if we know the number provincially as 496 00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:34.800 well, Cliff, that's you've probably got the latest information on that. We 497 00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:37.280 don't have that number right now, and I would actually turn to Painter Brought 498 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:44.800 to discuss the provincial number right now. It's not actually state for us to 499 00:47:44.880 --> 00:47:49.639 go into gun Lake and fully assessed. We're obviously continuing to work with our 500 00:47:49.679 --> 00:47:53.760 Structure Protection personnelity on the structures in that area, which is our focus in 501 00:47:53.920 --> 00:48:00.880 the response to the current wildfiring, and obviously less so one identify lost structures 502 00:48:00.920 --> 00:48:04.760 at this point, but we are working closely with the Squamish lelo At Regional 503 00:48:04.800 --> 00:48:10.119 District on that identification pay and else and viewing anything that yeah, I think 504 00:48:10.119 --> 00:48:16.519 you pay to boping sechrajector for EMCR. So to clips point, we are 505 00:48:16.519 --> 00:48:22.039 working with the community. It's challenging in the early stages to get those numbers 506 00:48:22.039 --> 00:48:28.760 confirmed. Certainly when the confirmation of those numbers is available, we'll be sure 507 00:48:28.800 --> 00:48:32.639 to make that public. There's a number of numbers being kind of provided, 508 00:48:34.119 --> 00:48:37.000 so I don't want to speculate too much until we sort of confirm that and 509 00:48:37.280 --> 00:48:42.559 provide more clarity on that, but do want to mention that what's very important 510 00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:45.519 I think for everyone to understand is that any structure loss as significant. We 511 00:48:45.599 --> 00:48:51.519 understand that this is very challenging for communities to work through those elements, and 512 00:48:52.079 --> 00:48:55.239 we continue to support how where we can. So we'll be sure to circle 513 00:48:55.280 --> 00:49:02.400 back with numbers when we have confirmation on that. Community. Thank you up 514 00:49:02.440 --> 00:49:08.719 from community, Thank you follow up Brianna. Okay, great, thank you 515 00:49:08.760 --> 00:49:13.199 so much. Um. Yeah, I guess from that point, Um, 516 00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:16.159 it's like what I'm wondering if you could speak a little bit more specifically of 517 00:49:16.239 --> 00:49:22.719 what you expect for that specifically the Gun Lake, specifically wildfire specifically in the 518 00:49:22.719 --> 00:49:28.599 coming days. Um, and yes, sort of what the biggest challenges are. 519 00:49:28.639 --> 00:49:35.960 I guess Okay, I think that's back to Cliff there. I think 520 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:39.559 it goes without saying for any of our larger fires and so that we have 521 00:49:39.599 --> 00:49:45.119 a challenging week. The forecast is for hot and dry conditions to continue. 522 00:49:45.920 --> 00:49:50.760 What what's really challenging us right now, as I mentioned earlier, is the 523 00:49:50.840 --> 00:49:55.280 wind. We're seeing significant wind and wind gus pushing forty to seventy kilometers an 524 00:49:55.280 --> 00:50:00.119 hour, and it is pushing not just the gun Lake fire, but a 525 00:50:00.199 --> 00:50:05.320 number of our fires in the stuff and really challenging our containment lines in terms 526 00:50:05.360 --> 00:50:08.039 of the next number of days. We have intiment management team in place on 527 00:50:08.119 --> 00:50:12.960 that fire, as well as many of our other fires we've discussed previously. 528 00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:17.559 We have intantent management team support from outside jurisdictions Australia, the United States, 529 00:50:17.559 --> 00:50:22.079 as well as our own six into I management teams that are deployed across the 530 00:50:22.079 --> 00:50:27.320 province. That team is putting together plans both obviously plans for the next twenty 531 00:50:27.320 --> 00:50:30.079 four hours in immediate response, but they're also doing a lot of work with 532 00:50:30.239 --> 00:50:37.000 growth modeling and projections to identify planning for the next seventy two hours and beyond 533 00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:43.679 to really ensure that we are building containment lines. We have contingency lines built 534 00:50:43.719 --> 00:50:47.480 behind that. But as discussed earlier, the conditions that gun Lakes specifically are 535 00:50:47.559 --> 00:50:52.599 quite challenging to steep terracing, so we are utilizing our aviation massets we have 536 00:50:52.679 --> 00:50:58.639 ground resources on that fire, including structure protection but also fire suppression crews, 537 00:50:59.519 --> 00:51:02.599 and the plan will be to continue to try to protect the structures around Gun 538 00:51:02.679 --> 00:51:07.400 Lake and ideally try to steer that fire away from from the structures and the 539 00:51:07.440 --> 00:51:14.360 communities while the conditions persists and make it very challenging for us to actually suppress 540 00:51:14.440 --> 00:51:27.800 the fire full. Next question comes from Peter and Midham country Life. Hi, 541 00:51:28.599 --> 00:51:34.360 thanks to the availability today. Just wanted some clarification after I've been speaking 542 00:51:34.360 --> 00:51:42.280 with some producers and industry groups that if a groundwater user is cut off, 543 00:51:42.280 --> 00:51:45.119 particularly in the agricultural sector. I understand some have been told that they can 544 00:51:45.159 --> 00:51:51.679 go to other licensed users and possibly obtain water as long as it's still within 545 00:51:51.719 --> 00:51:57.039 their allocation the allocation of the licensed user, but I understand that other producers 546 00:51:57.039 --> 00:52:01.679 have been total that's that not str allowed. So can you offer any clarification 547 00:52:01.760 --> 00:52:07.960 preps Connie or other smart Uh? Why don't we try? Yeah? I 548 00:52:08.039 --> 00:52:14.599 see Connie muting herself, so maybe she has some comments there um challenging situation 549 00:52:15.159 --> 00:52:20.639 that in that case, individuals can look to potentially other licensees that may fold 550 00:52:20.679 --> 00:52:27.119 a license for water transport or for other mechanisms under the Water Sustainability Act that 551 00:52:27.159 --> 00:52:30.639 would allow that water to them be used at that point in location. So 552 00:52:30.679 --> 00:52:37.519 the critical thing is um looking at what is within the legislation and ensuring that 553 00:52:37.719 --> 00:52:42.440 if the use and how it's being used for still aligns with the legislation. 554 00:52:42.480 --> 00:52:46.519 We are aware that there are license holders out there that are specifically for um, 555 00:52:47.119 --> 00:52:51.880 you know, the transport of water and so forth. So it's going 556 00:52:51.920 --> 00:52:57.000 to be really dependent on circumstances. We have staff that would be happy to 557 00:52:57.440 --> 00:53:02.239 work work as best we can with looking at the different circumstances if there are 558 00:53:02.280 --> 00:53:09.000 specific questions within water licenses, but it's critical that those water license holders remained 559 00:53:09.039 --> 00:53:20.280 in compliance and the Water Sustainability Act. Thank you, thank you, follow 560 00:53:21.360 --> 00:53:24.960 thanks you very much. Jollity Act was passed by the government to BC Liberal 561 00:53:25.000 --> 00:53:36.239 government in twenty sixteen. Who was six years of notices, public press releases, 562 00:53:37.280 --> 00:53:44.000 discussions with professional organizations, in some cases even personal contact with water users 563 00:53:44.039 --> 00:53:50.119 to encourage them to register. So what is happening now and in some regions, 564 00:53:50.159 --> 00:53:53.239 for example Vancouver Island, where it's at a level five throughout the highest 565 00:53:53.360 --> 00:54:00.920 level, those people who have not registered and who are using water illegally for 566 00:54:00.079 --> 00:54:09.039 commercial purposes from a domestic source, are in danger of certainly losing the right 567 00:54:09.119 --> 00:54:14.280 to do that. What they are doing is contract if they want to sustainability 568 00:54:14.320 --> 00:54:22.039 acting and difficult decisions are made during drought and those people who have chosen or 569 00:54:22.239 --> 00:54:30.239 have not registered at this point will be subject to enforcement orders I would say 570 00:54:30.360 --> 00:54:36.199 in terms of enforce members. If someone has registered but they do not have 571 00:54:36.239 --> 00:54:39.440 a license yet, in other words, the application is incute, there will 572 00:54:39.480 --> 00:54:47.440 be no enforcement action against those people. So it's extremely important. And I 573 00:54:47.480 --> 00:54:52.960 remember that the previous minister and the previous government encouraging people to register, and 574 00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:59.760 you will do it again, but there are real consequences if in a drought 575 00:55:00.039 --> 00:55:05.000 you've not entered into the scheming under the Water Sustainability Act. It's very important 576 00:55:05.360 --> 00:55:10.840 that people be registered and in priority obviously in any allocation of scarce water resources 577 00:55:10.880 --> 00:55:22.440 will go to those who have registered than from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food 578 00:55:23.639 --> 00:55:28.079 Thanks Marketing, Ministry of Agriculture. And if I could just add to that, 579 00:55:28.159 --> 00:55:32.880 so there are a number of unauthorized users that we are aware of that 580 00:55:34.199 --> 00:55:37.960 have livestock and we have followed up with those on authorized users directly and have 581 00:55:38.079 --> 00:55:45.519 provided them sources registered sources of water where they can provide livestock drinking water to 582 00:55:45.719 --> 00:55:52.559 ensure that there are no animal welfare issues for those unauthorized users. Do have 583 00:55:52.559 --> 00:56:00.960 a follow up heers? Do you have a follow up heer? Yeah? 584 00:56:00.440 --> 00:56:06.880 I believe that was mister Ralston answering on the second answer of that first question. 585 00:56:06.920 --> 00:56:12.840 But yeah, just maybe segueing off that Connie had mentioned last week that 586 00:56:14.480 --> 00:56:20.400 a precise number for suspected unauthorized users on Vancouver Island, and but she'd also 587 00:56:20.440 --> 00:56:22.800 mentioned enforcement action taking place in the Thompson Nicola region, and so I was 588 00:56:22.840 --> 00:56:28.559 just wondering if there was account on enforcement actions that had been taken place there 589 00:56:28.559 --> 00:56:39.480 against suspected unauthorized groundwater users. Go ahead, Connie, so on Vancouver Island, 590 00:56:40.400 --> 00:56:45.639 the sub coast, it wasn't Thompson Okanagan, it was Coote Boundary region. 591 00:56:45.519 --> 00:56:51.119 And we are aware that other regions such as Thompson Okanagan is currently taking 592 00:56:51.159 --> 00:56:55.280 assessments to determine who may be an unauthorized user, especially within the watersheds where 593 00:56:55.280 --> 00:57:06.320 we're seeing the greatest impact to the current route situation. Last question comes from 594 00:57:06.440 --> 00:57:15.719 Jillian. Last question comes from Jillian Francis Ferny free pr all Right, um, 595 00:57:15.760 --> 00:57:21.079 so I've been reporting on the Sparwood fire, the Latmore Creek fire, 596 00:57:21.639 --> 00:57:25.920 and um I was told that there was a weekend I had a bit of 597 00:57:27.199 --> 00:57:30.760 rain on the weekend and that this reduced reduced the intensity of the fire. 598 00:57:31.480 --> 00:57:37.880 So I was wondering if someone could shed light on what ground operations currently look 599 00:57:37.960 --> 00:57:44.599 like there and how they have changed since the weekend rain. We'll go back 600 00:57:44.599 --> 00:57:47.280 to Cliff Chapman from the BC Welfare Service. Yes, we did see a 601 00:57:47.320 --> 00:57:51.760 little bit of rain on that fire and it did. It did knock down 602 00:57:51.840 --> 00:57:55.039 kind of the activity and the small column that has been present on that fire. 603 00:57:57.519 --> 00:58:00.800 Obviously, with so many fires opening in this some in portion of the 604 00:58:00.840 --> 00:58:05.840 province and continuing to maintain the northern response with the fires we saw earlier, 605 00:58:07.199 --> 00:58:10.400 I don't have that specific information right in front of me. I do encourage 606 00:58:10.480 --> 00:58:15.280 everyone in the media and to please visit DC Wildfire Dot a look at the 607 00:58:15.280 --> 00:58:21.239 fires of note. We update that information very regularly. It has the the 608 00:58:21.320 --> 00:58:24.119 operations that are being undertaken, the amount of resources bit are on a fire, 609 00:58:24.199 --> 00:58:29.599 and the potential for that fire over the coming days. So I apologize 610 00:58:29.599 --> 00:58:31.920 I don't have that information right now, but I guess a bit of a 611 00:58:31.960 --> 00:58:37.519 plug for the wildfires of Note and the wildfire Now where you can find that 612 00:58:37.599 --> 00:58:50.360 information online online follow up Jillian, Yeah, I also, like I saw 613 00:58:50.400 --> 00:58:53.719 on the website that there were I mentioned that we're there's new fires that were 614 00:58:53.920 --> 00:59:00.519 started potentially in the facility of our what over the weekend, and I was 615 00:59:00.559 --> 00:59:07.880 wondering how close they were to the original fire cliff. If you have any 616 00:59:08.360 --> 00:59:14.239 comments, we can have them here or we can maybe set up a follow 617 00:59:14.360 --> 00:59:17.920 up. I think we did pick up a number of fires in that general 618 00:59:19.000 --> 00:59:22.199 area from recent lightning activity over the course of the last couple of weeks. 619 00:59:22.239 --> 00:59:25.559 I don't have the specifics on how close they are to this bar would fire, 620 00:59:25.599 --> 00:59:30.719 but I do know that we did have three or four additional incidents in 621 00:59:30.800 --> 00:59:35.199 that sort of general geographic and we'll have to follow up with the specifics, 622 00:59:45.199 --> 00:59:52.920 Okay. In my introduction to this particular episode, I did mention consumerism, 623 00:59:52.960 --> 01:00:00.719 and it is one of the one of the things that is not really talked 624 01:00:00.719 --> 01:00:05.840 about as much as it should be, is how consumerism is actually feeding climate 625 01:00:05.920 --> 01:00:14.039 change and how, especially in North America, we have a problem with everything 626 01:00:14.159 --> 01:00:22.760 has to be packaged, and we have landfills filled with single use packages that 627 01:00:23.800 --> 01:00:30.639 maybe if we cut back on some of the packages just there, we could 628 01:00:30.960 --> 01:00:40.519 spare some of the oil mining and some of the waste that we produce that 629 01:00:40.679 --> 01:00:47.920 actually is causing some of the greenhouse gases that we're seeing. Just something to 630 01:00:49.000 --> 01:00:55.239 think about, can you do without that package good? Or if you're on 631 01:00:55.280 --> 01:01:04.320 the manufacturing and can you cut back the packaging so that it is a little 632 01:01:04.320 --> 01:01:13.039 bit less waste on our environment, click that so scribe button wherever it may 633 01:01:13.079 --> 01:02:05.159 be, and thank you for listening. The show has been produced by Depictions 634 01:02:05.239 --> 01:02:10.360 Media. Please contact us at depictions dot media for more information.