West Kelowna Fire Chief Reflects on L.A. Fires as a Stark Reminder
The West Kelowna fire chief draws parallels between recent L.A. fires and B.C.’s past wildfire devastation, urging communities to prepare.
West Kelowna, British Columbia, California, Wildfires, Jason Brolund
West Kelowna: The fire chief there, Jason Brolund, is feeling a bit haunted. He’s been watching the wildfires tearing through Southern California and can’t help but think back to the chaos in his own community back in 2023.
Those images from L.A. are all too familiar. They remind him of the McDougall Creek fire that hit West Kelowna hard, destroying nearly 200 homes. It’s tough for some of his firefighters to even look at the footage from California.
In L.A., the flames are spreading fast, just like they did in West Kelowna. Brolund says it’s a wake-up call for everyone. We need to be ready for wildfires, especially as climate change makes them more common.
He’s also keeping an eye on how L.A. is fighting these fires. They’ve got some cool nighttime aerial firefighting tech that could really help in B.C. too. Brolund believes learning from California is key for their future firefighting strategies.
His team has been pushing for nighttime firefighting capabilities since their own fires last year. The province is finally starting to make that happen, which is a relief.
With new night-vision technology, they’re hoping to improve their response. It’s mainly for scouting and mapping, but they’ve even done some nighttime waterbombing on select fires.
Watching the fires in California brings back memories for Brolund. He recalls the panic and chaos as flames rushed into neighborhoods. It’s a tough thing to relive.
“It’s incredibly disturbing to watch,” he says. “It takes you right back to that night.” Now, he feels they can reflect on what they learned during the crisis.
On a positive note, B.C. Premier David Eby mentioned that California has reached out for help. They’re sending a team from the BC Wildfire Service to assist.
Brolund isn’t sure if his firefighters will be heading to L.A., but they’re getting ready just in case. He remembers how 50 fire engines from various departments came to help West Kelowna last year, and he wants to return the favor.
He’s also urging everyone to have an emergency plan. It’s crucial to know what to do if you need to evacuate quickly. Having a plan can make all the difference.
Even though it’s winter now, and wildfires might not be on everyone’s mind, this situation is a reminder that we need to stay prepared.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2025.
Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press