Are You Ready
for Fire Season?
We have all heard that with the low snow pack, decreased spring rains and expected high temperature., that summer 2024 is likely to be another year with out of control wildfires burning in many parts of the province. Will we be lucky and get missed? But if not, are we the best prepared we can be to help reduce our risk?
Last year the Adams East and Bush Creek wildfires impacted many in our District. We didn’t live here in 2003 so getting put on evacuation alert July 13 was a real eye opener for us. Stressful doesn’t begin to describe the feeling! We did scramble like crazy those first days to remove machinery and personal items as fire is so unpredictable. During the 2 months living under that alert, we made great strides in efforts to FireSmart our property, having been fortunate enough to attend a FireSmart session in Barriere in April 2023, which helped us feel better about our chances when we saw that fire 1 km away daily. We were very fortunate the BC Wildfire Service kept it from getting any closer.
After the evacuation alert ended mid-September, we arranged to have a FireSmart evaluation done in November. Of course there are still a few minor things to tweak but we were told we should be okay if a wildfire comes our way this year. Fingers crossed it doesn’t.
How can you protect your own property? Learn about what is takes to be FireSmart. Dan Funk, the TNRD FireSmart coordinator will be giving a FireSmart presentation in Barriere, Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m. at the Barriere Seniors Hall for anyone in the area interested in attending. North Thompson Valley Garden Club has organized for him to come do this presentation with support from the District of Barriere and our Barriere Fire Department.
