A letter from the executive director of the BC Wildfire Service sparked an invitation to meet with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
In February, the CSRD board opted out of the province鈥檚 Cooperative Community Wildfire Response (CCWR) program and board chair Natalya Melnychuk sent a letter to Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar informing him of the decision and raising concerns about changes to the program.
鈥淎fter careful consideration, we have determined that the program does not align with our regional district鈥檚 responsibilities, operational capacity or the needs of the community members,鈥� wrote Melnychuk in her Feb. 20 email. 鈥淭he CSRD has concerns regarding the downloading of wildfire response responsibilities, costs, and services from the provincial government to regional districts, creating an untenable burden on local taxpayers and emergency management resources.鈥�
Melnychuk also took issue with the fact there was no consultation with CSRD emergency management staff, something she described as a misstep and departure from what has been done historically. As well, she noted that originally the program was presented as a collaboration with local fire departments funded by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS). Now the program is being offered to unprotected areas only, resulting in no reasonable service to attach CSRD support.
There is also a concern the province can change the program scope, process and guidelines at any time.
鈥淭he CSRD is apprehensive that any changes, without having direct or indirect involvement in any decisions would result in the regional district having to provide full administrative support for the program, which is unacceptable to the board,鈥� said Derek Sutherland, the regional district's community and protective services general manager.
In his March 7 response, BCWS executive director David Greer failed to address CSRD concerns, instead listing the main goals of the Cooperative Community Wildfire Response model: Understand and support the development of Indigenous and rural non-Indigenous community wildfire preparedness and response capacity; Develop pathways, building on what already exists, for both Indigenous and rural, non-Indigenous community wildfire response, in cooperation with the BC Wildfire Service; Acknowledge and highlight local and traditional knowledge and experience in fire management and improve engagement and cooperation between communities and the BC Wildfire Service and local authorities.
鈥淭he Regional District Cooperative Community Wildfire Response Organization program is one avenue for community participation in wildfire preparedness and response,鈥� wrote Greer, pointing out the wildfire service would like to set up a pre-season meeting with the regional district to discuss barriers and gaps as well as opportunities within the program.
Electoral Area A director Karen Cathcart was assured by Melnychuk that Sutherland would be moving her request for a meeting with BCWS forward.
