When I grew up and worked in the woods industry in the late '50s until 1966, when we had a high fire risk in the woods, the woods were shut down for any activity whatsoever until the risk was over. We burned slash and got rid of debris left after logging to make way for new forest growth.
This was done when there was little chance of unwanted fires being started. The cost of this was borne by the provincial forestry ministry and logging companies.
Things changed when environmentalists got involved.
We could not have a fire to curtail the pine beetle when they got to be a potential hazard to our pine forests. Look what we have now.
After the last fire we had in the Kelowna area, the provincial government said they would get rid of the debris that helped fuel this problem. I don't think this happened.
The government and large forest companies went along with the people who were against fires. The only reason I could see was a good excuse to save money at the cost of the environment, the animals that depended on new growth and the safety of the people who are now facing the situation in Kelowna.
People complain that bears, elk, deer and other animals are in their back yard. Of course they are; their food supply is gone in their natural habitat due to the curtailment of slash burning, natural forest fires being curtailed, etc.
Now people are allowed to go into the forests whether there is a high fire risk or not.
I think it is time the people responsible for this step up to the plate and fix or attempt to fix this problem.
Bill Ellis, Sechelt
