The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s (SLRD) board of directors is urging the provincial government to declare a state of emergency regarding wildfire risk, as well as to restrict backcountry access of unregulated activities in extreme risk areas.
The decision came out of an emergency board meeting held on Wednesday, July 7.
“We are all aware of the dire situation in our province, with regard to the wildfire risk, and we have seen the devastation that wildfire can cause. Our sympathies go out to the people of Lytton and the surrounding area, and to everyone who has been affected by wildfires,” said SLRD Chair Jen Ford in a release.
“The conditions are tinder dry, and most of the province is on high alert. We can’t do anything about the record-breaking temperatures, or lightning strikes, but there are actions that the Province can take to help reduce the risk, including restrictions and resourcing, and that’s what we’re asking.”
The SLRD board is also asking CN Rail to perform rail line maintenance and to remediate vegetation throughout the regional district, specifically along the Squamish to Lillooet route. With the Fraser Canyon Valley rail line impacted by the fires, CN said in a statement sent to Pique that it expects to reroute one to two trains a day onto a separate line spanning from Prince George to Vancouver.
“Safety is a core value at CN and we have made sure to inspect our infrastructure in the Prince George-Vancouver corridor before making the decision,” the statement went on. “Further, every train that will be circulating between Prince George to Vancouver will be accompanied by a patrol to ensure the safety of the operation.”
The SLRD is also asking MLAs Jordan Sturdy and Jackie Tegart to share in its advocacy efforts.
The SLRD currently has a State of Local Emergency in place for all four of its electoral areas. There are currently two Evacuation Orders in place in Area B in relation to the Mckay Creek wildfire, while the Texas Creek Road area is on Evacuation Alert due to the risk from the Lytton Complex fires.
A handful of small lightning-caused fires are also burning near Birken, as well as around Anderson Lake.
“There are wildfires burning in three of our four electoral areas,” Ford said. “There have been record-breaking high temperatures and extreme fire risk and it’s only the beginning of the summer so now is the time for the Province to act.”
Report fires in Whistler by calling 911. Outside of Whistler dial *5555 on a cell phone or 1-800-663-5555.
Stay up to date on B.C.’s fire situation at bcwildfire.ca.
-With files from Brandon Barrett
