The ripple effect of the 2017 wildfire season in BC has just scratched the surface.
That’s according to Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty when discussing the crisis in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Over 1.2 million hectares have been burned by over 1,260 wildfires and over 53 million cubic meters of timber have also been scorched.
He says while most of the stories were heartbreaking, a lot of heroic efforts also took place.
“Our own communities opened up their hearts, and their homes to over 11,000 evacuees and the stories of our communities really rallied around the evacuees, and that’s incredible.”
Doherty adds the people in his riding are still hurting even though they are not front page news anymore.
He also never wants Ottawa or Victoria to forget the province just went through the largest mass evacuation BC has ever seen, along with the worst wildfire season on record.
“We have lost 53 million cubic metres of timber; that is equivalent to a one year annual allowable cut for a province, and that’s about 10 years of annual allowable cut for our riding. 30,000 head of cattle are also missing or lost altogether too.”
He adds some families have chosen not to return to their homes due to the trauma and emotional distress that was encountered during the fires.
– with files from Brendan Pawliw, My PG Now
Today, I provided a statement on BC Wildfires. Reminding the PM & Ministers that we need action ..now. #CaribooPG https://t.co/STdNmEbH45
— Todd Doherty (@ToddDohertyMP) September 19, 2017
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