Residents question initial fire response

[five_alarm]

KELOWNA -- It was one month ago today that lightning sparked the devastating Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire near Kelowna. Now, questions are beginning to surface about how effectively the fire was fought in its earliest stages. Kelowna Councillor Sharon Shepherd says some people are wondering whether the initial outbreak could have been contained with a more vigorous first response.

Source: CP Broadcast News... (http://www.firehall.com/cgi-bin/refer?url=http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=8fc928a3-3df7-474f-90b9-af6862f689d2&s=&linkid=211&parent=news)

[LTPVFD]

Is it fair that Kelowna council questions the response of the fire service? Having lived in the Okanagan for several years, I know there are many areas that are virtually inaccessible. Getting resources into the scene would not be easy.

At the time the Okanagan Mountain fire started, there were also major fires in the Kamloops area, the Vernon area, the Cranbrook area, and other parts of the province. Resources were stretched very thin.

I think the questions that need to be asked, have to do with current forest management practices. The ground fuels and duff layer were very deep. Why were mitigation measures not undertaken years ago? Perhaps some timely prescribed burns would have significantly reduced fuel loads. Forestry is such a major economic consideration in our province that we (government and industry) must take appropriate mitigation steps to prevent anything like this in the future.

The other consideration is Mother Nature - as we have all seen, when She invokes her wrath - there is NOTHING anyone can do!!

LTPVFD