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Vol. 89 Issue 16 • Wednesday, APRIL 18, 2012 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 Includes HST
Careless campfire threatens Spicer farm By Claire Paradis Arrow Lakes News
The fellow who was bucking wood by the Spicer’s farm on the long weekend and decided to build a small fire got the fire chief smoking mad. The little fire he built on the grassy expanse between the beach and the Spicer’s house quickly escaped its small circle of stones and raced over the tinder-dry straw. Luckily for Janet Spicer and the fire lighter, the wind was blowing east, not north. Even so, the flames reached the plastic fencing at the edge of the farm and completely melted it. If the fire had reached one of the farm’s outbuildings, Fire Chief Terry Warren said, it could have burned all the way to the Hydro substation or the hospital. It was all a mere matter of chance that it didn’t. “It was just stupid,” said the fuming fire chief, who emphasized there are burning restrictions and bylaws in place for a reason. Backyard fires are permitted, but they come with restrictions to ensure they are safe, he said, and so that
something like the brushfire in front of the Spicer’s doesn’t happen. Campfires, open fires with an eighteen-inch diameter, are allowed with a permit, Warren explained, but fire enthusiasts must always watch the fire and have shovels and sufficient water on hand, just in case. “Check your bylaws before you burn,” he advised. Burns are also regulated to ensure that the air remains relatively free of particulate matter that can affect people with asthma or breathing problems, he said. Fires can make a dent in your bank account as well as in the quality of the air. Whether or not you like it, you can be blamed for what they do. Even though it may have been an accident that a fire spread, if it was lit by you, you still can be held responsible for any damages, said Warren. The fire chief recommended taking any old leaves you’re tempted to pile high and light up over to the Spicer’s farm instead, where they use them as mulch and compost. So, check the bylaws, keep an eye on your fire at all times, have water and shovels at the ready, and don’t
Nakusp Fire Chief Terry Warren stands in front of Spicer’s farm, where a neglected fire melted fencing and threatened nearby buildings. CLAIRE PARADIS/ARROW LAKES NEWS take off until the coals are cold. Is that it? Nope. “For God’s sakes if a fire gets away on you, call us,” said the fire chief, who was still burning up that not a single person called the grass fire in during the long weekend. If you’re in doubt about a fire you
see call the fire department, said Warren, who has a list of all fires permitted on any given day. The firewood-collecting firebug was found and has since made the rounds, getting a talking to from both RCMP and Warren. I’m sure his cheeks were burning with shame.
Kootenay wildfire dispute still simmering By Greg Nesteroff
Black Press
Four prescription burns in the Regional District of Central Kootenay are on hold while local politicians haggle with the province over funding. The provincial government has already approved its share of the projects near Boswell, Edgewood, Harrop/Procter, and Arrow Creek, intended to reduce the risk of wildfire spreading from forests to communities. But the regional district balked this week at picking up $110,000 of the $459,000 price tag, following a rule change last year that puts local government on the hook for 10 per cent of projects under $100,000 and 25 per cent above it. Previously, the province paid the whole shot. Another 20 burns in high priority areas are expected to cost $2 million to $3 million.
Regional district chair John Kettle says they can’t easily come up with their portion. “We don’t have money we can grab out of thin air to help these prescriptions,” he says. “Are they sorely needed? You bet. All our water systems and watersheds are at risk.” Kettle says a dedicated tax service to fund their share does not exist, although it might be accomplished through an existing service. Last month the chairs of the three Kootenay regional districts — who call their areas “among the highest risk for wildfire in the province” — met with Forests Minister Steve Thomson to seek solutions. “The current funding formula has greatly limited our ability to actively engage in interface fuel treatments, and has stretched our budgets and staff resources,” they told Thomson in a letter. “Without necessary restructuring, this important program will lose political supmps nity cha u m m o c
port, and as a result, we believe Kootenay communities will be placed at risk.” The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has pulled out of the program, while RDCK chair Kettle and Arrow Lakes director Paul Peterson put projects in their areas in “abeyance.” East Shore director Garry Jackman and rural Nelson director Ramona Faust did the same this week. Jackman called it a “strategic position.” “We’d be foolish to undertake this without the money in hand,” he said. Rural Castlegar director Andy Davidoff said it didn’t take long after his election to realize wildfire risk is a “huge” issue. “It’s a travesty for our government to offer a program and place such limitations on it that we can’t protect our citizens,” he said. Administrator Jim Gustafson agreed protecting citizens is “the most important thing a government can do,” but added the projects
have hidden costs, including administration and hiring consultants and contractors. Regional districts are expected to absorb those costs, he said, and there is no contingency if the projects go over budget. Kettle is optimistic the forests ministry will come back with changes to make the program more acceptable to regional districts, and believes their message came across loud and clear. “That’s a heavyweight deal when you bring in three regional districts at once and we all agree,” he said. “I think we got their attention. [Thomson] was concerned something they felt was really good is not being implemented the way they thought.” The RDCK is also bringing a motion before the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments asking the province to pick up the full tab for fuel management projects.
0 REWARD $1,00
Last year, these hometown heroes were two of four d e t n a remarkable high school and post-secondary students who received w s e o r $1,000 bursaries just for telling us about themselves and the work they do to make e h our world a better place. This year, it could be you! Apply now at your school, branch or online.
DEADLINE May 15, 2012
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