Canada’s federal and provincial governments are taking a new approach to wildfire fighting as the country is heading into what it anticipates to be another intense fire season.
The strategy is called the Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy, and will build new and strengthen existing partnerships between levels of government.
“We recognize that the challenges are bigger than one government, agency, or community can take on themselves, it requires a whole of society approach,” said BC’s Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston.
“This is a call to action that encourages cooperation, coordination and problem solving at all levels of government and society.”
Ralston noted the document isn’t intended to be a static document, but is intended to evolve as progress is made.
Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson says this plan comes as a result of Canada’s devastating wildfire seasons in recent years.
“The severity of wildfires in Canada in recent years underscores the urgency of this strategy and highlights why we must continue to prevent and mitigate the risks of wildland fires before they occur,” Wilkinson said.
“Our homes, our communities and our environment depend upon it.”
The strategy involves collaboration between local, Indigenous, provincial and federal governments, prescribed burns, more firefighting resources and public education campaigns.
–With files from Ryley McCormack, My East Kootenay Now
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