By Ashley Burr

CRD Wildfire Report Released

Mar 17, 2018 | 10:33 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE – The Cariboo Regional District Board of Directors have reviewed a wildfire report following the CRD’s community consultations in the fall.

The report was released after two dozen community meetings, a survey and Facebook event, engaged over 2,600 residents between October and December 2017.

Butterfly Effect Communications, presented the report identifying numerous recommendations regarding communications, emergency operations, prevention, wildfire fighting and recovery.

In regards to communications, the suggestion is to look at barriers that may impede important information from reaching all communities. Suggesting some historical impacts may hinder an important message from spreading, as it will follow only natural lines of communication.

“Recovery resources, particularly around mental health and financial assistance, are not meeting the needs of residents. The timing of this disaster, during peak season for many activities, combined with the length of this disaster, which stretched over three months, equalled a devastating impact on residents and businesses in the region,” Tim Conrad, Consultant, Butterfly Effect Communications

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Three of the largest wildfires in the province’s history were within the region last summer, including the Plateau Fire, which burned nearly 500,000 hectares. 60 homes and 167 other structures were destroyed in the region’s fires, with no loss of life directly attributed to the disaster despite 60% of the population under evacuation order or alert. To read the full report click here.