How prepared is Prince George for a wildfire disaster?

And a review of B.C.'s timber sales

Somebody wrote to me — and I’m sorry I can’t find the message — asking about how Prince George would handle a Los Angeles-style situation when it comes to wildfires (ie fires burning in the city). The specific question was about alert systems which is a good time to remind you that you can sign up for emergency alerts from the Regional District of Fraser Fort George (which would handle the alerting) here. If you want to keep an eye/ear on things west of town, the Bulkley Nechako one is here. You can read more about the city’s planning, including gathering points, here. And, fortunately for me and you, CBC Daybreak North decided to interview the person in charge of emergency planning for Prince George, Tanya Spooner, about the plans that are in place. Here are a few of the key points if you’re unable to listen:

• The primary focus is about saving lives, not property. Yes, homes and buildings would be protected, where possible, in a disaster, but the top priority is lives.

• Prince George is big (geographically). We’ve heard this a lot when it comes to the city explaining why we spend so much on road maintenance, but it plays a role in disaster planning, too. Here’s Spooner: “We have a large surface area and so our first plan is are we able to evacuate people from one part of our community to another and support them ourselves?.. If there’s a fire in the Hart can we be briging people into the Bowl or College Heights and assist there?”

• There’s a lot of exit points, but we can’t count on all of them. In an absolutely “worst case scenario” that threatens the whole city, the task of emergency officials would be to determine the best way out and the direction that is least likely to later be evacuated. Ie, even if you can go north, if fires are burning toward Chetwynd, that’s probably not the recommended route.

More broadly, there’s the things we have heard before but are worth reiterating, things like having an emergency kit, having a list of the things you need to bring with you if you are evacuated and the importance of FireSmarting your property so it is less likely to be at risk.

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News roundup:

• More than $1 million found in efficiencies by City of Prince George.

• Eby says PG on the right track to shutting down Moccasin Flats encampment.

• “Now is the time to be bold”: B.C. has announced a review of B.C. Timber Sales as well as more manufacturing jobs funding in part as a response to the looming threat of tariffs under Donald Trump. That review will be partially led by Vanderhoof councillor Brian Frenkel.

• Also from the Natural Resources Forum: Prince George well-positioned to become hydrogen hub; BC water minister tours Chilako River Restoration Project south of Prince George; Chief tells forum Lheidli T'enneh is 'open for business'; Construction of Arbios Biotech's first-of-its kind fuel facility now complete in Prince George.

• And Behind the scenes when a hotel is sold out.

• Also, John Rustad used his keynote at the forum to again, without evidence, allege non-Canadians voted in the provincial election.

• Layoffs begin at CNC — CKPG reporting at least two jobs already down.

• UNBC appoints two Research Chairs enhancing Rio Tinto partnership.

• SD57 beginning decolonization work to improve Indigenous involvement.

• Catching up with PG’s own Jared Young ahead of MLB Spring Training.

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Send feedback by emailing northerncapitalnews@gmail.com. Find me online at akurjata.ca.