By Chris Koo

EOC funding

Prince George Emergency Operation Centre in need of a permanent facility says city official

Apr 29, 2024 | 3:24 PM

Prince George – Prince George will receive $30,000 this year from the province to strengthen its local emergency response team in the face of growing wildfire risks.

“Local emergency operations centres are crucial for co-ordinating emergency response to keep people safe. This funding will help communities support responders on the ground and better protect people in emergency situations,” says Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness.

However, though funding will help to train the response team and modernize the equipment, the Emergency Operation Centre(EOC) is also in need of additional funding for a permanent location, says Tanya Spooner, the manager of the EOC in Prince George.

“Prince George activates pretty well annually for most of the summer. And it’s not reasonable for us to use a civic facility and council city events to do that. If we can find a permanent facility, it would make it a lot easier for evacuees, for staff and on the community as a whole.”

Wildfire

Crescent Spur Wildfire evacuation alert lifted

7h ago

Wildfire

Families from Fort Nelson seek refuge in Prince George amid Parker Lake wildfire

8h ago

CNC Dentist

Hundreds of students receive free dental care from CNC's Seal in a Smile campaign

8h ago

She says their reception centre that receives evacuees moved eight times last year and the longest stay in one location only last 139 days.

After a request for a permanent location for the centre this year, city council is currently in talks with the province to make that happen.

With most of the funding invested in Emergency Operations Centre(EOC) training/exercises and equipment modernization, Stephanie Cleland, an assistant professor in lung health at SFU, says there’s also a need to put money towards local air quality monitoring.

“Making sure there’s clean air centers, be that making sure public spaces like libraries or other places have safe air and are accessible to community members during smoke events or equipping community members with their own air cleaner so they can shelter indoors in their own homes.”

Based on the evidence, Cleland says 2023 won’t likely remain the worst wildfire season on record. And she adds that continually directing more funding to prepare cities – especially those in really vulnerable areas like Prince George – is a great idea.

With May 5th marking the start of Emergency Preparedness Week, Spooner wants to remind citizens to get their grab and go bags ready that’s appropriate to emergency plans.

She encourages people to check out either the city’s website or FireSmart BC to learn how to prepare their home for the possibility of wildfires, especially for homeowners and property owners.