Bracing for British Columbia’s ‘worst wildfire season yet’
First Nations emergency responders are tracking multiple factors that threaten to contribute to another record fire season
By Sidney Coles
Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks turns his smartphone to show an image of the bare mountain tops near his home in Hagwilget near Hazleton. Stegyawden, the Seven Sisters range and the Kispiox mountain — all visible on a clear day from his porch, are shockingly bereft of snow. This time of year, snowfall is normally accumulating along the peaks and slopes of these mountains generating snowpack. Not this year.
“It’s not looking good up there for the wildfires,” says Na’Moks, pointing to a picture of Hudson Mountain.
Last year, local and national media outlets followed the wake of devastation left by wildfires in communities from the south east to the north west of the province. Disproportionately, those most impacted by wildfires are Indigenous communities.