National Post - Letter to the editor
Large-scale fires: They could happen in Canada
February 12, 2009
Re: Australia Fears More Than 200 Dead In Bushfires, Feb. 10: With the current wildfire situation in Australia, it is important to ask: Can it happen here? Canada, the United States and Australia have similar approaches to wildland fire management. Until a few years ago this resulted in little loss of life and only moderate property damage -- but this has changed. A number of factors, including climate change, have increased the presence of disease, insects and drought. This has increased the frequency and potential severity of large wildland fires. In addition, more people and property are located in areas where wildfires may strike. Fire experts are also concerned about the quality and quantity of equipment available to support this important effort. Large fires in California, Australia and, to a lesser extent, Canada, have brought public attention, political direction and increased funding for fire agencies. In 2005, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers drafted a well-defined, national wildland fire strategy, built around three core elements: resilient communities and an empowered public; healthy and productive forest ecosystems; and modern business practices. The vision is sound, yet we remain vulnerable, largely because this strategy has not been put into place. We need not experience fires like those in California or Australia in order to learn from them.
Glenn McGillivray
Managing Director
Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
|