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Emergency Management BC Regional Seasonal Meetings April 10-11, 2013

2013 Fire Season Readiness. Steve Schell Fire Centre Manager Kamloops Fire Centre Wildfire Management Branch. Emergency Management BC Regional Seasonal Meetings April 10-11, 2013. 2013 Fire Season Readiness. Overview. What has changed 2012 fire season recap

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Emergency Management BC Regional Seasonal Meetings April 10-11, 2013

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  1. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Steve Schell Fire Centre Manager Kamloops Fire Centre Wildfire Management Branch Emergency Management BC Regional Seasonal Meetings April 10-11, 2013

  2. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Overview • What has changed • 2012 fire season recap • Resource preparedness and new facilities • Vision for 2013 fire season • Provincial priorities

  3. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Kamloops Fire Centre – What we do

  4. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Kamloops Fire Centre – Who we are…

  5. 2012 Season in Review Kamloops Fire Centre Summary • Below average in terms of number of fires and hectares burned.  • 473 wildfires burning a total of 1 541 hectares • Below the 10 year average of 551 fires burning a total of 21 935 hectares. • Of those fires, approximately 54 per cent were lightning-caused and 46 per cent person-caused. • The 200 hectare Trepanier Creek fire near Peachland was the largest fire of note as it also caused an evacuation order. The fire started on September 9, 2012 and it burnt four structures. Trepanier Fire – Peachland Courtesy: Peachland News Trepanier Fire – Peachland Courtesy: National Post

  6. 2012 Season in Review Provincial Summary • The number of fires last season was 20 per cent below average, while the total area burned was 25 per cent below the average. • The largest fire of note was in the Prince George Fire Centre—the White Spruce Creek Fire burned east of Fort Nelson. • Exported personnel to Washington, Idaho, Manitoba, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Ontario, and Quebec. • Brought out-of-province resources in to assist with periods of heightened activity. A total of 79 additional personnel came from Saskatchewan, Yukon, and Ontario to assist B.C. in suppression efforts.

  7. 2013 Fire Season Readiness 2013 Update • The CIFFC Fitness Test is now fully implemented. It is the new national standard for type one firefighters. • On May 3rdairtankers arrive in Kamloops—two Convair 580s, one TC-690 Turbo Commander, and a total of seven personnel. • The Kamloops Fire Centre has two fleets (4 airtankers) positioned between Penticton and Kamloops. There are 12 airtankers provincially.

  8. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Provincial Priorities • Excellence in Wildfire Management • Readiness for the 2013 fire season • Implementation of 2012 fall debrief recommendations for improvement • Provide for the safety of responders and the public • Leading wildfire planning, management and practices • Support emergency response for the people of BC, Canada and the world

  9. 2013 Fire Season Readiness WMB role in evacuations • Tactical Evacuations • Ordered by WMB • “Moments notice” • No other resources (RCMP) to execute • Strategic Evacuations • Typically flows through • Unified Command • Incident Commander(s) • make recommendation • through local government • Executed by RCMP

  10. 2013 Fire Season Readiness 2012 KFC Season in Review

  11. 2013 Fire Season Readiness 2013 Spring Drought Codes Drought Code: numerical rating of the moisture content of deep, compact, organic layers April 2012 April 2013

  12. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Automated Snow Pillow Real-Time Data (Grano Creek) Not only is the lack of snow cover a key contributor to wildfires, but also the timing of the “meltout” (when the snow is gone). BUT REMEMBER…

  13. 2013 Fire Season Readiness Automated Snow Pillow Real-Time Data (Brenda Mines) …The best fire season indicator is the weather, but you can’t always predict the weather!

  14. 2013 Fire Season Readiness 2013 Fire Season so far • There were eleven fires over Easter long weekend. All fires were believed to be person-caused, mostly due to out-of-control open burning activity. • This activity is above the 10 year average of 3 fires over this time period and only one fire last year. • Other fires include a 5.9 hectare fire at Deep Lake where we assisted Kamloops Fire Rescue, a 16 hectare fire north of Cache Creek and over 200 hectares on the Coldwater IR (3 hectares adjacent to homes where we assisted). • Since April 1, 2013 seven fires have burned 19 hectares.

  15. 2013 Fire Season Readiness 2013 Resources • All resources are highly mobile and will be moved based on the Resource Strategic Wildfire Allocation Process (RSWAP)

  16. 2013 Fire Season Readiness 2013 Facilities • MERRITT FIRE ZONE AND PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE TRAINING FACILITY • The anticipated date of completion is June 30, 2013. • Working with Mierau Contracting and Kasian Architects  to complete the project. Local suppliers are also being utilized. • RAPATTACK BASE / SALMON ARM FIRE ZONE • Seven new cabins were also built in Salmon Arm for personnel at the rapattack base

  17. 2013 Fire Season Readiness WMB long-term priorities • Support B.C. Climate Change Action Plan • Support Canadian Wildfire Management Strategy • Support B.C. Wildfire Management Strategy • Monitor health of forest industry • Enhanced recruitment opportunities for Districts and Regions

  18. Thank You Question & Answer For more information on wildfires in B.C., please visit: www.bcwildfire.ca @BCGovFireInfo BC Forest Fire Info

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