Communication woes plagued Kenow fire response: report
Protocols allowing ‘spontaneous firefighting assets’ being explored
Jurisdictional issues and a lack of a unified communications strategy during last summer’s Kenow wildfire are detailed in a post-incident report released by the provincial government.
And the province is looking into “deputizing” affected property owners into existing fire crews as a means to bolster rural fire protection during large-scale disasters.
Issued Friday, the report describes confusion over jurisdictional responsibilities across the municipal, provincial and federal agencies deployed to battle the fast-moving wildfire that roared eastward from B.C.’s Flathead Valley toward the Continental Divide last September, toward tinder-dry Waterton Lakes National Park.
“During the Kenow fire, some stakeholders did not understand the jurisdictional responsibilities outside of their boundaries,” the report reads.
“Some felt that it was never made clear to them who had the legal authority, who was in command or what terminology was being used.”
Reports issued since the blaze, including one issued in December by the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, allege systemic lapses in co-operation by provincial and federal agencies.
The provincial government disputed the claims in that report, while M.D. officials refused comment when contacted by Postmedia.
Friday’s report says a “unified command” was enacted to overcome such issues, a strategy the province says was met with a mixed response from stakeholders.
“It was perceived that neighbouring jurisdictions were not always fully represented, and communications and actions were sometimes confused by a conflicting understanding of how unified command was being applied,” the report reads.
“Assumptions were made on who would be responsible for which task, creating further confusion between jurisdictions.”
Residents and landowners along Waterton’s northern boundaries expressed concern and anger over what they described as dangerous lapses of communication coupled with unreliable assurances from officials over the risk the rapidlyapproaching flames posed to their property.
This became clear late Sept. 10 when the blaze roared north out of the park’s boundaries and into the M.D., prompting police and emergency crews to pound on doors to get sleeping residents to safety.
“Residents voiced concern over the lack of information and timeliness — they also questioned whether they were being told the correct information,” reads the Alberta government report.
At a Sept. 7 landowner meeting, officials assured attendees the province’s emergency alert smartphone app would indicate when evacuation orders were issued.
These orders came too late to be of much use to landowners, with one telling Postmedia he and his family were racing down Highway 5 ahead of an advancing wall of flame when the app advised him to evacuate.
Recommendations are also being made to explore protocols allowing “spontaneous firefighting assets,” in response to some property owners denied the opportunity to join fire crews to protect their land from the wildfire.
“While safety of first responders and the public is clearly of paramount concern, some thought should be given as to how to safely and effectively incorporate these unconventional, spontaneous firefighting assets into suppression or protection efforts — particularly in rural areas, which have large geographic dispersion,” the report reads.
It recommends the Office of the Fire Commissioner work with the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association on how best to incorporate these “spontaneous” volunteer firefighters into rural or remote firefighting efforts.