Peter McIntyre Monday, 03 August 2009 20:14 107.5 KISSFM:
Quick and agressive action by air and ground crews kept a wildfire in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park from spreading to nearby homes.The blaze started around 5:30 Monday afternoon just east of the park's main entrance off Kidston Road.Water bombers attacked it for over an hour followed by planes that dropped retardant on the northern flank.Ground crews then moved in to put out hot spots and mop-up. Indications are it may have been caused by a careless smoker.
Ray Worley, president of the group 'Friends of Kalamalka Lake Park' wants BC Parks to consider shutting down the popular recreation area.Worley tells KISS FM, "This is a potential disaster waiting to happen and it seems Parks don't have the staff or resources to control the situation in the park and are unwilling to ban smoking. They've got to go the extra step and close the park until the fire risk has been lowered."The park was evacuated after the blaze broke out, and RCMP were limiting access along Kidston Road to just residents.The BC Forest Service has yet to provide details on the size of the fire, and the cause.
4 comments:
The fire in Kal Park was a frightening experience for those of us who live in the vicinity. Careless actions were likely the cause and these types of incidents are likely to reoccur. I hope that BC Parks undertakes some serious ecosystem restoration work to bring the park back to it's historical conditions and deal with the fuel hazards in the process. If not Kal Park WILL burn at some point, and burn more in the stand replacement style than stand-maintaining style. I realize that many residents of Coldstream have expressed opposition to this strategy in the past but it is truly the best thing for the park and in the end the residents of Kal Park. We need to get a dialogue and edcuation process going on this topic and petition/request BC Parks to consider this approach.
The forest fire situation is extreme right now - and has been numerous times in the past. While I sympathize with the concerns of the adjoining property owners I must also ask what they were thinking when they bought their home[s] in the vicinity of this beautiful locale. Kal Park is dry, the whole area is dry - this seems to be a recurring event. If a person buys property next to a park they should be aware of the dangers that accompany their choice. They reside next to a park - a park that is open to the public and as such they have to 'live' with the risk of choosing their location. The whole of BC is dry right now and I wonder if in future it will be any different.
Parks in the Greater Victoria region are closed when risk of fire is high:. Why should our parks be any different?
It is not unreasonable to ask that measures be put in place to protect homeowners from the danger posed by fire that has the potential to destroy life and property.
We will all bear the increased cost of insuring our homes
Has anyone considered the wildlife? Surely the impact of human activities should include their safety.
There are those who point to lightning started fires to demonstrate that we cannot avoid interface fires.
However, human-caused fires may not be detected until they require aggressive action. Party spots tend to be out of the way. ie in Kal Park under the hydro lines south of the road overlooking the Bear Valley.
Lightening strikes can be tracked by radar and acted upon immediately.
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