Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Forest fires pose a threat to many communities in the NWT. Every year millions of taxpayers’ dollars go to fire management efforts, from public education and prevention, to staff training, to air tankers and firefighting crews.
Last summer forest fires destroyed many hectares of forest in the Deh Cho region, demanding significant public resources to manage.
The community of Kakisa is at high risk of damage due to forest fires. This small hamlet, in the dense forest of the southern NWT, could be destroyed within a few hours, if not minutes, given the right conditions. Kakisa needs a reliable fireguard.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has completed the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Kakisa in 2010. This plan identifies risks and recommendations for local forest fire management. At the time the plan was created, a full firebreak ran from the lake to the community access road, but the dense stand of spruce and pine nearby still limited its effectiveness. More trees need to be thinned in certain areas.
Community consultation needed to take place, with input from elders, to preserve traditional land uses before people started cutting brush in the area
surrounding the community. It is also uncertain whether the community fire department has the capacity to take on fire suppression activities. Some people felt that not enough community members were trained or available on an ongoing basis to help fight a fire.
Without a local first line of defence, the community has to rely on outside help to help fight a fire. Given the travelling distance and time it could take for help to arrive and how quickly a fire can spread, Kakisa could be in serious danger.
The community wants to move ahead on forest fire protection. The popular campground is a valuable asset in the community and they would like to advance an initiative to construct a walkway to link the campground to the hamlet. The infrastructure could serve as a strategic forest fire management tool. Debris from additional brush cutting could be used as home heating fuel.
The Department of ENR is very committed to forest fire management and has implemented some great programs over the last four years. It is time to revisit and renew the Kakisa Wildfire Protection Plan in time for the upcoming forest fire season.