The University of Alberta is inviting Cranbrook residents to participate in a survey about wildfire and prescribed burns to gauge public opinion.
The study will explore residents’ views on prescribed fires, acceptance of smoke from planned burns versus wildfire smoke and actions taken to prepare for smoke.
Director of Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services Scott Driver said controlled burns are useful for protecting communities from wildfire.
“Prescribed fire, especially in cases where we are carrying out a re-treatment or a second burn, is the best tool we have available to increase ongoing safety for everyone,” said Driver.
Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board Chair Rob Gay said wildfire mitigation tactics are changing, but previous approaches left the forests at higher fire risks.
“For basically the last 100 years, our mandate has been to put out fires before they start,” he added.
“We’ve created a situation where we have way more fuel out there and you can’t get these light, low-impact burns anymore; you get more intense ones.”
Gay said prescribed burns can help slow the spread of out-of-control wildfires while also improving forest health.
“If we want to look after our ecosystems, unfortunately, we’re going to have to put up with some of the fire and some of the smoke that’s created,” said Gay.
In 2023, a massive wildfire broke out at ʔaq̓am. While it burned down seven homes, Max Andrew, Ktunaxa Nation Council Safety Coordinator, believes it would have been significantly worse if not for prescribed burns.
“BC Wildfire Service and ʔaq̓am worked together to do a prescribed burn in the spring. Without that fire, I think we would have lost the airport and a lot of properties,” said Andrew.
“We need to put fire back on the land in a controlled way to help the ecosystem grow and reduce the wildfire danger.”
However, both prescribed burns and wildfires emit smoke, despite control efforts that may be put in place.
Interior Health Medical Officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet said smoke inhalation comes with both short and long-term impacts on your health.
“Some of the short-term effects can be local irritation like sore throat, eye irritation, runny nose, a mild cough and phlegm, sometimes you can get wheezy breathing and a headache,” explained Dr. Sabet.
“Long-term effects of exposure to air pollution can include new and worsening heart and lung conditions.”
The study, led by the University of Alberta, will measure the community’s perceptions of prescribed fire in British Columbia.
“We want to hear your thoughts on prescribed fire – including whether you support it, your acceptance of smoke from prescribed fire compared to wildfires, how prepared you feel, and the protective actions you take during smoke events,” said Sandani Siriwardhana, Master’s student and principal investigator.
Residents over 18 years old from Cranbrook and West Kelowna are invited to share their thoughts through this link until July 31.
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