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PODCAST: The changing face of wildfires in a warming world

TODAY IN B.C.: Best-selling author John Vaillant details Fort McMurray tragedy and B.C. wildfires
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John Valiant, the author of B次元官网网址楩ire Weather: The Making of a BeastB次元官网网址. (Supplied photo)

You will find B次元官网网址楾oday in B.C.B次元官网网址 podcasts on , , , , and podcasts.

In this podcast episode, Peter McCully talks with John Valiant, the author of Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast.

In May 2016, Fort McMurray, the hub of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 petroleum industry and AmericaB次元官网网址檚 biggest foreign supplier, was overrun by wildfire and drove 88,000 people from their homes in a single afternoon.

Vaillant warns this was not a unique event but a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world.

Vaillant says that approximately 200,000 Canadians have been forced to evacuate their homes at some point during the summer of 2023.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the population of Regina,B次元官网网址 said Vaillant. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a major Canadian city that has been forced from their homes. Wildfire for Canadians now is really a national security threat. ItB次元官网网址檚 a threat to public health and safety, but itB次元官网网址檚 also a threat to our national security. ItB次元官网网址檚 so destabilizing to have the entire city of Yellowknife basically on the road.B次元官网网址

The conversation delves into the growing threat of wildfires in the context of climate change and the devastating impact on communities in British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Vaillant tells McCully what he learned from interviewing firefighters.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e aggressive, proactive folks who go in there and save property, they save lives,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what they do. Imagine people like that going into a neighbourhood and you canB次元官网网址檛 save anything. These folks are dedicated to service and so to not be able to protect the citizens that theyB次元官网网址檙e charged with protecting itB次元官网网址檚 really wounding. But I think the real injury is not being able to protect the community in the way that youB次元官网网址檝e been trained to and the way that you really want to.B次元官网网址

The podcast conversation discusses the changing behaviour of fire due to climate change, the influence of insurance companies in responding to these risks and the urgent need to address these challenges.

If you have suggestions or comments, send a voice message to you may be part of our audio podcast mailbag segment.

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Peter McCully

About the Author: Peter McCully

Peter has been a broadcaster and publisher on both of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 coasts and has owned a small newspaper and run an advertising agency along the way.
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