WHEREAS the provincial government has provided positive revenue programs to support the local governments with their efforts in undertaking urban interface fuel modification projects; AND WHEREAS the provincial government would become even more effective in resolving wildfire threat in British Columbia by accelerating its involvement in the protection of homes, businesses and communities throughout the Province by expanding the use of Forestry Protection and Initial Attack Fire Suppression Crews to provide pre fire season and post fire season fuel modification projects on Crown Lands located adjacent to rural and urban developments within British Columbia: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be requested to initiate a major emphasis and to target a significant portion of provincial funding to have Forestry Protection and Initial Attack Fire Suppression Crews deployed to undertake major wildland forest fuel modification projects on Crown Lands located adjacent to or in close proximity of developed rural and urban areas throughout British Columbia.
Ministry of Forests and Range Response: The Province has identified Valemount in particular as one community that could benefit from crew extensions, and local government needs to acquire and confirm the legal authority to conduct fuel treatments on crown land generally through a forestry license to cut from the District Manager. Then the Ministrys protection branch will be able to offer employment extensions to available fire fighters, subject to available funding. During the last two years the province has extended crews in many areas of the province to reduce the build-up of forest fuels near communities by harvesting, thinning, pruning, brushing and pile burning. The Province is planning to do the similar work this year, is also providing technical expertise via fuel management specialists working one-on-one with communities to provide specialist knowledge. Communities are encouraged to not rely solely on Ministry crews that are in limited supply to perform fuel treatments in their communities. They should also pursue local contractors or unemployed forestry workers to undertake some of these activities and can access funding through UBCM or the Mountain Pine Beetle community development grants now available. It has taken decades to create the interface fuel management challenges we now face provincially. It will take cooperation, planning and funding over a long time period to correct and effectively treat the broad area affected.