As wildfires continue to rage through the interior of BC, it has been inspiring to hear stories of Powell River residents stepping up and doing their part.
Whether it is local firefighters and Rangers that have been deployed to fire-ravaged areas, such as Williams Lake and other parts of the BC interior, or the Powell River families who have taken evacuees into their homes, the devastating fires have brought the entire province together. We are proud to be part of that ongoing effort.
As of Monday, July 31, there were 149 wildfires burning in BC. More than 425,000 hectares have burned since the beginning of this year's fire season, which is the third worst since wildfire stats have been recorded. Only 1958 and 1961 have had more fires than 2017.
Despite all of this, inexplicably, there are still those who ignore strict fire bans and continue to behave recklessly. As we head into another heat wave, police and fire departments have reported several illegal fires in the area, including at local beaches and campsites.
Images such as the one on our front cover this week, taken by local firefighter James Southcott of a forest fire he was deployed to in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, or aerial photos showing widespread devastation throughout Williams Lake and other parts of the interior, should be a constant and harrowing reminder of how summer heat can quickly turn to disaster.
Anyone who makes the conscious decision to light an open flame in this kind of weather is just not thinking rationally.
Much speculation has been made about how Powell River area would respond to a forest fire. If faced with an emergency, we could expect the same kind of support from other parts of BC.
But the focus here is on prevention. In the coming two weeks, this summer's local temperatures are expected to be the highest yet. Safety has to be at the absolute forefront of all of our minds.
Those careless enough to ignore a fire ban and start a campfire or, worse yet, throw a cigarette butt out of a car are endangering us all.
Ultimate kudos to all of those currently working to fight fires in BC, including our hometown heroes. Let's help them extinguish what has quickly become a provincial state of emergency by not adding ignorance to the fire.
-Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor
