-6.3 C
Niagara Falls
Friday, February 14, 2025
Letter: Action needed to prevent destruction by wildfires
Letter to the editor. FILE

Dear editor:

In 2016, Fort McMurray wildfires burned 579,767 hectares of land, causing the evacuation of more than 90,000 people and destroyed 2,400 homes and businesses. Another 530 buildings were damaged.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada calls the fire the costliest insured event in Canadian history, with a price tag of $3.6 billion.

One thing we learned from the Fort McMurray fire is that embers carried by strong winds can travel two to five kilometres before falling and maybe igniting.

My heart and prayers go out to all the firefighters, volunteers, police, tourists, residents and others who assisted in Jasper.

In 2024, the federal government invested close to $800 million in programs to improve wildfire management, purchasing equipment and training firefighters.

A simple solution was discussed for many years: creating a two to five-kilometre firewall, which entails clear-cutting all trees, brush and working up the soil on a monthly basis. It may not be aesthetically appealing but it could save lives and communities.

But the idea was never acted upon. With climate change, these fires will occur more often.

It’s time that federal, provincial and municipal governments take this seriously and be proactive.

In my opinion, if Parks Canada had implemented the firewall practices the damage in Jasper could have been minimized.

Tony Giordano
NOTL

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