It’s not if but when

Forgive the pun but wildfire is a hot topic in our province right now. There’s a feeling of anxiousness whenever we hear a water bomber fly over the city or see a convoy of fire trucks racing to a rural area. Raging wildfire costs tens of millions of dollars annually, destroys homes and businesses, kills wildlife, and puts our provincial and local firefighters in danger.

Yet nobody talks about it during the other eight months of the year. There’s also the issue of smog, some of it which blows in from Washington state, which is a major concern for anyone who suffers with respiratory issues.

Senior levels of government always step up to the plate once wildfire occurs but commit limited funds when it comes to prevention.

There was a provincial election on May 9. During the five-week campaign, next to nothing was said at the local level about wildfire and very little provincially. With the economy being a major concern during Election 2017, it was forgotten that tourism is a significant economic driver in B.C. and this summer many people stayed home or reduced the length of their stay.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Revelstoke this month. He met with firefighters, thanked them, and posed for pictures but left B.C. without a firm financial commitment from the federal government.

The new NDP government hasn’t said much during their limited time in power. Were the BC Liberals as proactive on this file as they could have been over the past 16 years?

Locally, Penticton City Council paid $500,000 to construct a road behind City Hall to accommodate food trucks and nearly committed an equal amount on a light canopy for the 100 block of Main Street. Would money not be better spent creating fire brakes which could save homes and lives not if — but when — the big one happens in Penticton?

The attitude locally of many people is that a catastrophe can happen in Williams Lake or Princeton, but it will never happen here again.

Look at our climate and geography, it’s bound to happen sooner or later.

While it’s great that we’re a “Fire Smart” community, are we really?

Are we as individual citizens doing as much as we can to prevent a fire from happening? Has there been enough education? Do we know our emergency plan?

Penticton and the regional district are doing all the right things but so has Williams Lake.

This has been the worst fire season in 60 years but with global warming a reality, fire and smoke during the summer months is the new normal.

Today’s 1,800 word special report will be seen by skeptics as fear mongering.

We believe it’s reality.

Nobody talks about it during other eight months