‘We should be humble’: B.C. cabinet minister responds to questions about 2021 wildfire response

During his stop in Vernon on Tuesday, B.C.’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation stressed that the province is working to improve the way it handles wildfires.

Murray Rankin held a press conference to promote the provincial government’s plans to address the trend toward more frequent and intense blazes.

In 2021, the North Okanagan was menaced for weeks by the White Rock Lake fire after it exploded in size, causing waves of evacuations and destroying dozens of homes.

Rankin was asked what he would say to those who, after what happened last year, don’t have faith in the province’s ability to fight fires.

“I think we are always learning. I think we should be humble,” said Rankin.

Rankin added that the province has a lot to learn and wants to work with First Nations, local governments and the federal government to coordinate fire responses and share knowledge.

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Rankin was also asked to respond to those who feel the White Rock Lake fire warrants a thorough review, as many still have unanswered questions about the blaze and how it was handled.

Last fall, BC Wildfire Service said it had “completed internal debriefs and After Action Reviews but there will be no specific internal review or report about the White Rock Lake wildfire.”

In his speech, Rankin highlighted that the province has allocated $2.1-billion over three years to address wildfire and flooding prevention and recovery.

The province’s fire spending commitments include funding for prevention, FireSmart programs, and wildfire service facilities.

Rankin said the number of personnel available to fight fires is also being expanded.

“We know, all of us, that climate change is real and it contributes to drier and hotter summers and that’s extended the wildfire seasons dramatically. It’s clear that is going to continue,” Rankin said.

“Our government is making significant investments to transform the BC Wildfire Service into a year-round service, not the seasonal service of the past, and to go from a reactive to a proactive agency.”