Mike Bernier is joining with local municipalities, questioning decision to move the Northern Initial Fire Attack Crew (NIFAC) from Chetwynd.
This is in response to the news that the NIFAC would be moving to Dawson Creek.
He joins the District of Hudson’s Hope and the District of Tumbler Ridge in expressing his concern.
Mayor Darryl Krakowka wrote a letter expressing his disappointment in February. “The District of Tumbler Ridge would like to express our firm support for the retention of the NIFAC in Chetwynd,” writes Krakowka. “The decision to relocate NIFAC to Dawson Creek has prompted us to voice our concerns and advocate for the continued presence of this vital resource to our community and surrounding areas.
He says that Chetwynd, along with the surrounding communities have long benefited from the presence of NIFAC based in Chetwynd. “Chetwynd, West Moberly First Nations, Saulteau First Nations, Hudson Hope, Tumbler Ridge, rural communities of Jackfish Lake, East Pine, and Hasler Flats, and also the main highway, rail, and utilities corridor through the Pine Pass have long benefited from the presence of NIFAC based in Chetwynd, whose swift response to wildfires in our region has undoubtedly played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of such events on our residents, environment, and infrastructure,” he writes. Their expertise, dedication, and rapid deployment capabilities have been instrumental in containing wildfires and safeguarding our community’s safety and well-being.
“Moreover, the Peace Region possesses unique geographical and environmental characteristics that necessitate specialized firefighting resources like NIFAC. The crew’s familiarity with our terrain, vegetation, and local fire dynamics ensures a more effective and efficient response to wildfires, thereby reducing the potential for extensive damage and loss.”
He says that relocating the crew to Dawson Creek would disrupt the coordination and response mechanisms established between the crew and our local authorities. More than that, he says, it would also “pose logistical challenges that could impede their ability to effectively address fire incidents in our area. Maintaining NIFAC in Chetwynd is not merely a matter of convenience but a strategic imperative to ensure the continued protection of our community and surrounding wilderness areas.”
He says that, with wildfire threat growing, diminishing firefighting capabilities seems foolish. “While we understand the need for equitable distribution of resources across various regions, we firmly believe that retaining NIFAC in Chetwynd aligns with the broader goal of enhancing wildfire preparedness and response efforts in British Columbia. Furthermore, the District of Tumbler Ridge shares its stance on this matter and stands ready to support the establishment of an additional attack crew, should the need arise. This collaborative approach underscores our collective commitment to ensuring the utmost safety and protection of our communities.”
His letter followed an earlier letter, signed by Hudson’s Hope Mayor Travous Quibell, and Fred Burrows, Director of Protective Services also protesting the move. “This relocation will change the BC Wildfire’s average response time from an hour to approximately two and a half hours to areas in and around our community,” says the letter. “This delayed response could impact thousands of residents of the northeast and millions of dollars of lost commerce.”
More importantly, the two write, “this decision was made without any consultation with local stakeholders and First Nation Communities, including West Moberly First Nations, Saulteau First Nations, Halfway River First Nations, the Districts of Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge, Moberly Lake, Hassler Flats, Jack Fish Lake, Ferrel Creek, and Upper Halfway.”
The letter says the Initial Attack crews from Chetwynd and their quick response to incidents have been vital to controlling wildfires in our community and region, “Wildfire season in the northeast starts in April and can be prolonged into the late fall, as in the 2023 season.”
In 2023, there were four wildfires surrounding Hudson’s Hope. The Initial Attack group from Chetwynd, says the letter, was vital in suppressing these fires.
And of course, the year before saw three Fires of Note directly impacted the District of Hudson’s Hope: Dinosaur Lake Fire, Flood Falls Fire, and Battleship Mountain Fire, resulting in Evacuation Alerts and an Evacuation Order, which displaced residents from the community for eight days.
In 2014, the Mount McCalister fire resulted in Evacuation Alerts and an Evacuation Order, which displaced residents for five days.
“The new Emergency and Disaster Management Act requires the district to consult with all our stakeholders, particularly First Nations Communities, on such an important issue; however, this requirement doesn’t seem to apply to the ministry. The district requests that the ministry revisit this decision.”
It is this last part, says Bernier, that is one of the most concerning things to him. “A big part of my concern is once again, government is making decisions without consultation,” says Bernier when we talk to him after the figure skating carnival. “That’s what I have heard from local governments in the region, from the regional district and from mayor and council in Tumbler Ridge: when decisions like this are being made that could negatively affect a community, why was the community not consulted and advised. It always seems after the fact—after decisions have been made—the government now wants to tell you about it and say they’re going to consult with you.”
He’s also worried that the decision may affect response time. “When we look at last year being one of the worst fire seasons provincially, and we saw definitely our share in the region,” he says. “We still have some fires burning and the concerns that are coming to me is about just how important those response times are. Dawson Creek is an hour away. An hour can make such a huge difference. The sooner you get on a response the better.”
Bernier wants to make it clear that his comments are not dissing the local crew. “We don’t have a huge crew up here but we have the initial attack people who have been doing a great job,” he says. “We just want to make sure that they’re dispersed around the region as best as possible. I’m looking forward to talking to the minister next week in debates on this to hear his reasoning.”
While Dawson Creek is the major centre in the South Peace, Bernier says that the majority of wildfires around Dawson Creek area grass fires. “Our local full-time fire fighting detachment usually gets dispatched and assists with a lot of those and have saved a lot of properties,” he says. “When you look at Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd and Hudson’s Hope, they’re right on the foothills of the mountains. Those are forest fires we’re having there. We were only a couple of kilometers away from possibly losing homes in Tumbler Ridge last year, so the sooner you’ve got people on fires the better.”
Dallas Gatchell, Wildfire Technician for the Dawson Creek Fire Zone says the decision was not made at the local level. “The reasoning behind it is direction from above,” he says. “We’ve got a new building in Dawson Creek, but we still maintain our building in Chetwynd. The crews will sleep in the residence in Dawson Creek, but we move our crews all around. Sometimes they’re in Tumbler Ridge, sometimes they’re in Hudson Hope, sometimes they’re in Chetwynd.”
The provincial government still has not responded to these concerns.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.