B.C. wildfire action plan focuses on collaboration with First Nations

After two record-breaking wildfire seasons, the B.C. government released a new plan this week to improve emergency management. A large focus of the action plan is working with First Nation communities, said Doug Donaldson, B.C.’s Minister of Forests. These communities can provide resources in several ways, including their knowledge of burn areas and manpower.  The plan commits to creating a new dedicated First Nations coordination operational staff with opportunities for First Nations and emergency managers to discuss strategies, and to provide training and public education resources to better support the needs of First Nation communities. The new action plan includes strategies to anticipate areas most at risk for fire, and to organize multiple resources quickly during the peak of wildfire season.