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PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 84, Issue XX | www.kimberleybulletin.com
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Prescribed burn in Nature Park successful C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
The prescribed burn in Kimberley’s Nature Park, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2016 was successfully carried out on Sunday, April 17. Kimberley Fire Chief Al Collinson said it went off well, although there were some smoke issues Sunday evening. “Everything went off very well, although you never get 100 per cent. We have fire department members and BC Wildfire personnel up there for another day or so making sure everything is out. The old tamarack stumps will be smoking for a few more days.” There was good venting on Sunday but as darkness fell, smoke descended on Kimberley, particularly Lower Blarchmont which is right below the burn area. “Venting indexes change at night,” Collinson said. “Air pressure changes. Lower Blarchmont did get hit hard.” This is the last prescribed burn planned for the year although there are other projects ongoing. Smaller slashpiles are being burned during the day in areas of the Nature Park, but shouldn’t cause a problem at night. The smoke from the prescribed burn will be around for a few more days, but lessening each day.
The Kimberley Fire Department and BC Wildfire Service crews on scene at the prescribed burn this past Sunday.
COURTESY KIMBERLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fentanyl overdoses a growing concern C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
Last week provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency over a significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths throughout B.C. The action will allow medical health officers throughout the province to collect more robust, real-time information on overdoses in order to identify immediately where risks are arising and take proactive action to warn and protect people who use drugs. Of particular concern to health officials is the rising use of fentanyl, which is being detected in more and more overdose deaths. According the National Institute of Drug Abuse, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic simi-
lar to but more potent than morphine. It is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery. “Mixing fentanyl with streetsold heroin or cocaine markedly amplifies their potency and potential dangers. Effects include: euphoria, drowsiness/respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, tolerance, and addiction,” the NIDA says. In BC, the increase in the proportion of illicit drug overdose deaths for which fentanyl was detected (alone or in combination with other drugs) : 2012 = 5% 2013 = 15% 2014 = 25% 2015 = 31% (approximate - not all investigations are concluded) There were 474 apparent illicit
Fentanyl is a growing concern for B.C. health authorities and law enforcement. It is being seen more and more mixed with drugs sold on the street, including marijuana. drug overdose deaths in 2015, which is a 30 per cent increase in deaths from 2014 (365 deaths).
While you may be tempted to think hard drugs are more of a big city problem, that is not necessarily
so, says Kimberley RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel. “You see harder drugs and you think big city,” he said. “But we are seeing more than we’d like to. More so in Cranbrook than in Kimberley, but traffickers go back and forth between all the communities. Just because someone was arrested in Cranbrook doesn’t mean they weren’t operating in Kimberley, Wasa, Moyie. “Our huge concern that people are buying stuff, even marijuana that is perceived as a soft drug, and it is laced with fentanyl — a highly addictive, potentially fatal drug.” By declaring a health emergency, health authorities will have more ability to collect information on overdoses, both fatal and those circumstances where the victim recovers, from font line responders. See FENTANYL, page 3