Wildfires and other forces of nature can be very destructive, very quickly
Sunday’s destructive Burns Bog fire, which went from a small
grass burn to a 55 hectare uncontrolled forest and brush conflagration in a
matter of hours, is a strong reminder of the potency of fire.
Smoke was visible over most of the Lower Mainland Sunday
afternoon. Fire crews from various parts of the province, including wildfire
specialists, were called in. Water bombers and helicopters were used. One
Vancouver radio station went off the air after its transmitter site was burned.
Most of the Tilbury industrial park, adjacent to Burns Bog,
was evacuated as a precaution and, as of Monday morning, several businesses were
still under evacuation orders. Highway 17 between Highway 91 and 99 was closed
Sunday evening and remained closed on Monday. The fire was 10 per cent
contained, but Delta fire chief Dan Copeland was hopeful more could be contained
on Monday.
Many Canadians were again reminded just how destructive fire
can be when the Fort McMurray fire occurred in early May. Thousands of people
lost their homes, and many barely escaped with their lives, as the shifting
winds pushed the fire into areas that were thought to be safe. A total of 2,400
buildings were burned. Wind shifts were a major factor in Sunday’s fire in Delta.
The entire community was evacuated. It will take years for
all the damage caused by that fire to be repaired, and for many people, their
lives will never be the same. Thankfully, no one was killed.
Back in 2003, similar destruction took place in Barriere and,
most notably, in Kelowna, where hundreds of homes were consumed in a raging
wildfire.
People who live in the Lower Mainland may feel insulated
from wildfire, but that is only partially true. It is true that most people do
not live adjacent to large forested areas (with some significant exceptions).
However, the damage that an uncontrolled fire can do in an urban area is massive,
and it can happen quickly. Fort McMurray is the most powerful example of that.
In Delta, the Tilbury industrial park houses hundreds of
businesses from large to small. The collective investment in those businesses
is undoubtedly in the billions of dollars. Those businesses employ thousands of
people. All that could be destroyed by a raging uncontrolled fire, and Sunday’s
fire proves that while it may be unlikely, it is not impossible.
Fire officials constantly stress the dangers of lighting
even small backyard and grass fires, particularly when the weather is dry. This
huge fire, which started as a grass fire, is proof that their warnings are realistic
and reasonable.
Stories from the United States about fires caused by stray
fireworks, lit in celebration of July 4 being Independence Day, are also a good
reminder of why they also warn about use of fireworks. It’s good that it has
become very difficult to buy fireworks in this area – the risk is simply too
high, to say nothing of the potential danger to individuals.
Delta fire department, Delta Police and emergency officials
from other parts of the region have their hands full in dealing with this fire.
It remained out of control on Monday. Hopefully, cooler and wetter weather will
help get it under control. However, as past fires in Burns Bog have demonstrated,
the fire may be out on the surface but still burning beneath the surface in the
peat. There have been innumerable examples of this over the past 50 years, and
often fires that start in the summer months last until winter.
Burns Bog is a precious jewel in the Lower Mainland. However,
it will always be at risk from fire.
This week’s fire is a good reminder to all of us to be very
careful with fire, and to be prepared for a sudden emergency. That emergency
may come in the form of fire, earthquake, flooding or something else – but whatever
it is, the effect on people is significant and often long-lasting.
Thanks to all the crews who are working so hard on dealing
with this fire. Hopefully, their task will not be a long one.
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