Declare fireban when risk is high

[Catsumi]

Summer rolls around, forests as dry as a hangover mouth, and yet once again, the Kamloops Fire Protection District (a misnomer if there ever was one) fails to impose a campfire ban even though the danger level has passed High into Extreme with fires burning out of control hither and thither. I would just love to know WHY each year there is a long delay. Who benefits from this inaction? Shots in the dark:
1. Campers who don't know about the handy, dandy portable gas rings?

2. Those who are still frozen from our long winter and 100 F heat isn't enough to thaw them?

3. Is it logging companies that need to cut timber to replace those homes burning to the ground?

4. Is it helicopter operators, or the manufacturers of flame retardents?

5. Is it the politician photo opportunity, complete with bright shiny yellow helmets to protect their valuable brainpans?

6. Respiratory technologists who help asthmatics get through the fire season?

The non-beneficiaries of a delayed fireban, the evacuees, the destroyed forests and the long suffering wildlife, the livestock and pets, the newly homeless, if they could, also probably would love to know why a campfire ban isn't in effect beginning on the same day as water restrictions start (no matter how wet it is). Yes, most people will understand and obey for the greater good.

There will be fires started by accident or lightening, some by brainless folk who start illegal campfires and cigarette tossers (who should be heavily fined and jailed too). However, a timely campfire ban COULD prevent over half of the fires statistically accounted for each year.

To date, July 16,2017, we are on the hook for $81,000,000.00 for firefighting costs. It's early in the season so I wonder how high the costs will rise. Does this amount include homes that need to be rebuilt, infrastructure destroyed, payrolls, evacuee maintenance for housing, meals, incidentals?

We could have paid for EIGHT payouts to Khadar and his associates. Just kidding!

Should we not be putting the question to politicians at all levels and not letting up until we have a sensible fireban policy?

[Carrs Landing Viking]

There is a campfire ban province wide. Just so you know.

[johnny24]

Summer rolls around, forests as dry as a hangover mouth, and yet once again, the Kamloops Fire Protection District (a misnomer if there ever was one) fails to impose a campfire ban even though the danger level has passed High into Extreme with fires burning out of control hither and thither. I would just love to know WHY each year there is a long delay. Who benefits from this inaction? Shots in the dark:
1. Campers who don't know about the handy, dandy portable gas rings?

2. Those who are still frozen from our long winter and 100 F heat isn't enough to thaw them?

3. Is it logging companies that need to cut timber to replace those homes burning to the ground?

4. Is it helicopter operators, or the manufacturers of flame retardents?

5. Is it the politician photo opportunity, complete with bright shiny yellow helmets to protect their valuable brainpans?

6. Respiratory technologists who help asthmatics get through the fire season?

The non-beneficiaries of a delayed fireban, the evacuees, the destroyed forests and the long suffering wildlife, the livestock and pets, the newly homeless, if they could, also probably would love to know why a campfire ban isn't in effect beginning on the same day as water restrictions start (no matter how wet it is). Yes, most people will understand and obey for the greater good.

There will be fires started by accident or lightening, some by brainless folk who start illegal campfires and cigarette tossers (who should be heavily fined and jailed too). However, a timely campfire ban COULD prevent over half of the fires statistically accounted for each year.

To date, July 16,2017, we are on the hook for $81,000,000.00 for firefighting costs. It's early in the season so I wonder how high the costs will rise. Does this amount include homes that need to be rebuilt, infrastructure destroyed, payrolls, evacuee maintenance for housing, meals, incidentals?

We could have paid for EIGHT payouts to Khadar and his associates. Just kidding!

Should we not be putting the question to politicians at all levels and not letting up until we have a sensible fireban policy?

You think a campfire ban would have saved the province $81M?

[dale mck]

Don't know what the criteria is for enacting a fire ban,,or how much it varies from district to district ,,but I would prefer they erred on the side of caution. The next step that I think is not acted on often or soon enough is a total "backwoods" ban. Not popular but not unreasonable to help reduce people caused fires, when extreme dry conditions persist.

[maryjane48]

i think thats where we headed dale . i raised the question of why buffers are not looked at more and the answer i got was people want the trees close by . ok fair enough . but our govt has a duty to keep everyone safe . it isnt a right to go camping or in the backwoods when in high risk season .


so really the only thing the govt can do is restrict access .

[Tootsie]

Yep and I said a few days ago - close the parks. Like they did in 2003. Knox Mtn is closed. Time to close all other community parks. Well I guess Jack Seaton Park doesn't have to be closed now - that's been taken care of this weekend.

[Woodenhead]

I would also like an ALLCAPS ban.

[fall]

Only the middle of July, this wont be the last one around here sadly.
I don't think any amount of precaution can stop stupid.

[johnny24]

Don't know what the criteria is for enacting a fire ban,,or how much it varies from district to district ,,but I would prefer they erred on the side of caution. The next step that I think is not acted on often or soon enough is a total "backwoods" ban. Not popular but not unreasonable to help reduce people caused fires, when extreme dry conditions persist.

Should we have a total driving ban too? How about sports like skiing or hockey? Kids playgrounds? Should we ban houses with stairs?

Far more people are injured and die from all of those activities than they do from forest fires. The costs of fires pale in comparison to the medical costs of these activities, but everyone overreacts when the media puts fires at front and center.

[CEB]

problem users don't usually follow the rules anyway so closing places can also mean that the good eyes/supervision aren't out there, which can be a problem. I've found hot fires before and put them out. My opinion has always been that parents need to speak to their kids about what risks they might be creating and to respect that danger. Bush Grad parties scare me. Smokers need to also be respectful. NO butts should ever be found on the ground- it's dangerous, disrespectful trash at the least and a danger at the worst.

When we see these things happen around us we need to do our part to educate and/or report.

[Tootsie]

"everyone overreacts when the media puts fires at front and center"

Huh ? Really ? Have you been evacuated? Are your eyes drooping like mine are after this weekend wondering if I have to leave my home in a minute? The fires ARE "front and center" in some of our lives right now. Your view might change if you walk a mile in some of our shoes. Believe me ....fires ARE front and center especially WHEN they're front and center in our yards and we have people knocking on our doors telling us to leave !
EDIT: Sorry to offend anyone. Just a bit testy in OK Centre & took it as belittling the fire situation. It's been a very un-nerving weekend.

[johnny24]

"everyone overreacts when the media puts fires at front and center"

Huh ? Really ? Have you been evacuated? Are your eyes drooping like mine are after this weekend wondering if I have to leave my home in a minute? The fires ARE "front and center" in some of our lives right now. Your view might change if you walk a mile in some of our shoes. Believe me ....fires ARE front and center especially WHEN they're front and center in our yards and we have people knocking on our doors telling us to leave !

Yes, I was evacuated in 2003.
What's your point? You're not the only person who's had to face a little adversity.

[Tootsie]

Maybe my point is please don't belittle this in any way. Apparently you went through this. Do you not remember your feelings at the time? Maybe 14 years lessen it ? It's real and up front for many of us here in Lake Country that have had a really bad weekend. Please don't allude to it's really nothing in the big scheme of things. It IS in OUR big scheme of things right now.

[johnny24]

Maybe my point is please don't belittle this in any way. Apparently you went through this. Do you not remember your feelings at the time? Maybe 14 years lessen it ? It's real and up front for many of us here in Lake Country that have had a really bad weekend. Please don't allude to it's really nothing in the big scheme of things. It IS in OUR big scheme of things right now.

I wasn't trying to belittle the fire. I was responding to the suggestion we should have automatic campfire bans every year. My reply is that campfires are far less risky than many other day to day activities, but nobody suggests banning them because they don't result in one major catastrophic event.

[gordon_as]

In my opinion , and based entirely on the weather , I think they were about 2 to 3 weeks late in declaring a fire ban this year. Would an earlier ban have prevented any fires ? I don't know , but like an earlier poster said , better to error on the side of caution. The fire ban should have been in place before the July long weekend , rather than after.