Chase council learned the community is in the line of fire after a report from FireSmart coordinator Michael Henderson.

At the Jan. 28 meeting, Henderson provided a wildfire risk assessment that said after nearly a century of no-fire policy, climate change and the mountain pine beetle, "the area is primed for wildfire."

B次元官网网址淥verall risk analysis here, ChaseB次元官网网址檚 climate is very prone to wildfire, itB次元官网网址檚 a known fact. ItB次元官网网址檚 semi-arid, it sees 30 degrees Celsius in summer,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that wind patterns, the amount of vegetation and reduced snowpack all add to the risk. B次元官网网址淭he combined impact of all of these is significant.B次元官网网址�

Henderson also referenced a recent study that ranked Chase seventh in the top 10 for the highest burn probability among small communities across Canada, with Sicamous, Sorrento, Grindrod and Nakusp also making the list. 

B次元官网网址淭o be the seventh highest burn probability is quite a concern... " he said, with his report stating "while the study may exaggerate risk, it is safe to say that Chase can expect a wildfire worthy of evacuation notice within a couple decades. Assuming a wildfire were to encroach on Village perimeters with existing preparatory measures, there is concerning probability of losses similar to North Shuswap in 2023."

Henderson added that he and staff are looking into introducing a wildfire development permit area and related bylaws to ensure properties are built to FireSmart specifications from the start, which he said other communities such as Vernon already have. That would allow the village to enforce FireSmart measures among residents, who so far havenB次元官网网址檛 really embraced it.  

B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 getting as much interest from residents in FireSmart assessments as I was hoping, considering in 2023 how close the community was to evacuation," he said. "So thatB次元官网网址檚 something a little concerning to me.B次元官网网址�

Council received the report for information but Coun. Dan Stevens late proposed a resolution for the Southern Interior Local Government Association that the province increase financial commitments for wildfire prevention in wildfire urban interface risk classes one to three, which are the highest.