NEW publication, co-authored by ECRG Alumni and SFU Wildfire researcher James Whitehead

Congratulations to ECRG Alumni, James Whitehead on his recent publication in The Conversation titled Working with local communities is a vital part of wildfire response, is focused on his research under the supervision of Dr. Tristan Pearce at UNBC.

Fire in the Robson Valley. Photo Credits: Robson Valley Fire Zone

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"This experience is not unique. In B.C., despite provincial investments and increased capacity, some wildfire seasons can push even the best crews and agencies to the limit.

Sometimes, this means community members feel the need to help with wildfire response. For some, it’s about protecting an intergenerational connection to the land, whether it be their traditional territories or properties. For others, it’s avoiding the loss of their livelihood, culturally significant sites, or legacy to pass onto the next generation. These messages are reiterated by locals on the frontline.

Mike Robertson, a resident of Southside near François Lake, B.C. and a senior advisor to the Cheslatta Carrier Nation that experienced fires in 2018, described it this way: “If they [community members] wouldn’t have stayed…this whole community would have burnt.”

Across Canada, tensions often flare between fire agencies and community members who choose to stay and protect their livelihoods, homes and land. In B.C., Tsilhqot’in, Secwépemc, Nadleh Whut’en and the North Shuswap communities, among others, all describe this tension and the weight of responsibility to protect their communities."

Congratulations James on this recent publication!