New tactic needed for ‘new normal’

Dear editor: Re: Get serious about fires, Editorial, Herald, Aug. 20

In response to Mr. Miller's editorial, I am in full agreement with getting serious about wildfires.

The past two years have been a nightmare for thousands of British Columbians, and have cost close to half a billion dollars in firefighting expenditure. (That’s a B as in billions). Fires have destroyed homes and infrastructure, millions of cubic metres of merchantable timber and now have left us in choking smoke.

This we are told is the “new normal.” Since this seems to be the case, we had better do some new thinking; and fast!

The output must embrace early detection of fire starts and rapid suppression. Once a fire has begun to roll there is little chance of stopping it without nature’s help. Air tankers are only so good and only if the fire co-operates.

We need a philosophy of better prevention, a capability of early detection and rapid suppression of fire starts.

Once again we are under a state of emergency as a result of wildfires. The same powers that are available under this order should be extended to the creation of a province-wide wildfire control structure that will be able to meet and deal with fire suppression under this new normal.

Russ Trenaman Penticton