Satisfied with fire fighting

Dear Editor: Regarding Frank Martens letter declaring the Liberals and previous Conservative government has dropped the ball I find disingenuous (Herald, July 24).

His claim more water bombers and spotter planes would have prevented the exodus of towns citizens and put the fires out is quite frankly a crock. Same with any others that believe the Martin Mars is the saviour to put out all fires.

I’m not sure what he and others making this year’s fire season political, have for experience in front line firefighting, but after witnessing what wind can do to a forest fire, all the helicopters and water tankers and personnel available can not stop the fire. They may be able to attack the flanks of the fire but the head of the fire with the smoke and debris columns are out of bounds.

It’s an absolute folly to think someone would direct personnel to attack the head of a fire in wind events that made the fires today what they are/were. To think forestry personnel can foresee a lightening event or the lack of rain that usually happens in June makes me shake my head.

If anyone could predict the future, don’t you think they would be doing something else on a tropical island somewhere? Similar to the rain events that melted the mid-level snow quickly to fill the lake faster than what could be released?

In 2003 the province I believe spent upwards of $370 million fighting fires. In 2010 it was $380 million.

Yes the province sets a budget with what is arguably an arbitrary number and in most years goes over that amount. I am not worried that once that budget number is reached that the fire fighting efforts are halted, money is available to continue the efforts. B.C. had a $2 billion surplus this year.

The aerial component of the firefighting efforts are all contracted private companies providing a service. I’m sure if they were given a long-term contract to provide many more aircraft and received funds to sit on the ground in a quieter fire season, I suspect they would, but I believe they are bright enough to realize these funds are taxpayers dollars and a balance between enough aerial resources and prudent spending is in order.

I’m fine with that balance. Chris Blann Naramata