Latest news with #ForestsMinistry
Global News
07-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Planned burn during 2023 Shuswap wildfires could have turned deadly: report
British Columbia's worker protection agency says a planned burn by the province's wildfire service during the devastating 2023 fire season could have killed or injured multiple firefighters who became 'trapped by extreme fire behaviour' that cut off their escape. Inspection reports by WorkSafeBC say the BC Wildfire Service didn't adequately ensure safety during the burn in the Shuswap region on Aug. 17 that year, and a group of trapped Brazilian firefighters had to retreat to a 'safe zone.' 2:22 B.C. wildfires: Frustrations over the Bush Creek fire battle WorkSafeBC says they had to burn off fuel around their truck and spend the night because of low visibility, smoke, fire activity and falling trees. Story continues below advertisement They were picked up the next day by another crew that 'cut their way into the site.' 'Other crews reportedly had to navigate off-road and around a burning pile of logging debris when the fire overcame the escape route causing damage to some trucks and causing one truck to nearly roll over in the process,' one of the reports says. A report dated Aug. 1, 2024, was obtained by The Canadian Press, while two other reports dated Aug. 30 and Dec. 6 were later provided by WorkSafeBC in response to inquiries. The Forests Ministry has previously said the planned ignition took place along a 10-kilometre stretch of power lines with the goal of reducing fuels in the path of an advancing wildfire, which went on to destroy dozens of homes. The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says that after fire activity increased and compromised the escape route, the trapped Brazilian firefighters sheltered in an open area below power transmission lines, where they parked their truck. 2:18 Re-building of homes, lives underway one year after destructive North Shuswap wildfire 'The planning and execution of this ignition operation was not adequate to ensure worker safety and workers were put at risk as a result,' it concludes. Story continues below advertisement The employer did not provide adequate information, instruction, training or supervision for the crews involved, the report says, and the incident 'could have resulted in multiple serious injuries or fatalities of workers.' It adds that 'workers did not exercise their right to refuse unsafe work,' and the employer is responsible for ensuring workers are aware of their right. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In response to a request for comment, the Forests Ministry said its priority is always the safety of the public and fire responders. The BC Wildfire Service has been in compliance with the order from WorkSafeBC as of Dec. 6, 2024, after taking steps to update processes and procedures for planned ignitions, the ministry said in a statement. The WorkSafeBC report from that date confirms the service had complied with its order, but notes the agency had determined there were grounds for imposing an administrative penalty over the 'near miss' incident. In an email on Tuesday, the agency said it is 'now considering appropriate enforcement action' related to the planned ignition operation. The agency noted its inspection reports are not posted publicly, but they are available upon request following review and redaction for privacy reasons. 5:35 Documentary on Bush Creek Fire At the time of the planned ignition on Aug. 17, two wildfires — the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek blazes — had been steadily moving toward the northern shore of Shuswap Lake after they started about five weeks earlier. Story continues below advertisement Whipped up by high winds the next day, the fires went on to destroy more than 170 properties and damage dozens more in the Shuswap area. The Skwlax te Secwepemculecw First Nation lost more than 80 structures. B.C.'s Forest Practices Board was also investigating the province's response to the same wildfires after receiving a complaint from a local resident. Jim Cooperman told The Canadian Press in 2023 that he filed the complaint alleging 'gross negligence' by the BC Wildfire Service in conducting the burn just beyond power lines about two kilometres from his home in Lee Creek. Cooperman said he was convinced it was the planned ignition, not the wildfires themselves, that raced down the slope on Aug. 18. He said the power lines meant to act as a fire break were surrounded by dead brush and instead became a 'conduit' for the flames. 2:34 'It's like driving through a war zone,' fire evacuees return home in the North Shuswap. The fire would eventually stop about 15 metres from the back of his home on the property where Cooperman has lived since 1969. Story continues below advertisement Cooperman said it's his understanding that the report from the Forest Practices Board's investigation is still being finalized. In an email on Tuesday, he said the WorkSafeBC report 'confirms the concerns' of many in the area, that the wildfire service was irresponsible and unethical in conducting the ignition 'just prior to a major windstorm.' The community is still 'reeling' from the destructive firestorm, he said, adding it caused 'severe' economic and emotional stress for local residents. 'Since the fire we have been seeking accountability from the B.C. government,' Cooperman said. 'This report strengthens our case.' The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says interviews with workers involved in the burn revealed a 'lack of planning contributed the entrapment incident.' 1:05 B.C. wildfires: More properties evacuated from Sorrento The BC Wildfire Service's own analysis report following the incident mentions there was 'no consideration towards ground resource co-ordination' as part of the planning process for the ignition, the inspection report says. Story continues below advertisement It says ground crews were given 'limited verbal instructions but were not given a briefing prior to this ignition operation.' The report says such an 'advanced' operation would have required an ignition specialist to be present, but no one involved held that designation. It also says the BC Wildfire Service's 'facilitated learning analysis' following the incident referenced workers being given verbal instructions, 'but there was not time for a planning session on the ground.' The Forests Ministry has said the planned ignition was complete within roughly two hours. 'The purpose of (the burn) was not to contain the wildfire but reduce its intensity and provide a greater chance of survival to any structures in its projected path,' it said in response to a previous request for comment. 2:52 Officials report 131 structures lost in B.C.'s Shuswap from Bush Creek East wildfire 'While we know the extreme conditions on the day resulted in significant structure loss, we know the planned ignition saved structures in Lee Creek.' Story continues below advertisement A bulletin posted by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District at 8:30 p.m. on the day of the planned ignition said the operation was successful. The aerial ignition of about 26 square kilometres was conducted 'along the power line in the North Shuswap … creating a significant guard line,' it said. Cooperman said his daughter called at about 12:15 p.m. the following day to say she could see flames in the hills above nearby Scotch Creek. He had packed up and left by 1:15 p.m., about an hour before the district issued an evacuation order for the Lee Creek and Scotch Creek areas. 'Our home place is now just ashes and burnt sticks. It's very difficult for us,' Cooperman said in an interview in the fall of 2023. A few days after the firestorm, the director of operations for the BC Wildfire Service defended the planned ignition, saying sustained high winds that changed the course of the fire were responsible for much of the damage. 'I want to be perfectly clear: that planned ignition saved hundreds of homes and properties along the north Shuswap,' Cliff Chapman told media.
Vancouver Sun
07-05-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Planned burn could have killed trapped firefighters, says B.C. safety report
British Columbia's worker protection agency says a planned burn by the province's wildfire service during the devastating 2023 fire season could have killed or injured multiple firefighters who became 'trapped by extreme fire behaviour' that cut off their escape. Inspection reports by WorkSafeBC say the B.C. Wildfire Service didn't adequately ensure safety during the burn in the Shuswap region on Aug. 17 that year, and a group of trapped Brazilian firefighters had to retreat to a 'safe zone.' WorkSafeBC says they had to burn off fuel around their truck and spend the night because of low visibility, smoke, fire activity and falling trees. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. They were picked up the next day by another crew that 'cut their way into the site.' 'Other crews reportedly had to navigate off-road and around a burning pile of logging debris when the fire overcame the escape route causing damage to some trucks and causing one truck to nearly roll over in the process,' one of the reports says. A report dated Aug. 1, 2024, was obtained by The Canadian Press, while two other reports dated Aug. 30 and Dec. 6 were later provided by WorkSafeBC in response to inquiries. The Forests Ministry has previously said the planned ignition took place along a 10-kilometre stretch of power lines with the goal of reducing fuels in the path of an advancing wildfire, which went on to destroy dozens of homes. The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says that after fire activity increased and compromised the escape route, the trapped Brazilian firefighters sheltered in an open area below power transmission lines, where they parked their truck. 'The planning and execution of this ignition operation was not adequate to ensure worker safety and workers were put at risk as a result,' it concludes. The employer did not provide adequate information, instruction, training or supervision for the crews involved, the report says, and the incident 'could have resulted in multiple serious injuries or fatalities of workers.' It adds that 'workers did not exercise their right to refuse unsafe work,' and the employer is responsible for ensuring workers are aware of their right. In response to a request for comment, the Forests Ministry said its priority is always the safety of the public and fire responders. The B.C. Wildfire Service has been in compliance with the order from WorkSafeBC as of Dec. 6, 2024, after taking steps to update processes and procedures for planned ignitions, the ministry said in a statement. The WorkSafeBC report from that date confirms the service had complied with its order, but notes the agency had determined there were grounds for imposing an administrative penalty over the 'near miss' incident. In an email on Tuesday, the agency said it is 'now considering appropriate enforcement action' related to the planned ignition operation. The agency noted its inspection reports are not posted publicly, but they are available upon request following review and redaction for privacy reasons. At the time of the planned ignition on Aug. 17, two wildfires — the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek blazes — had been steadily moving toward the northern shore of Shuswap Lake after they started about five weeks earlier. Whipped up by high winds the next day, the fires went on to destroy more than 170 properties and damage dozens more in the Shuswap area. The Skwlax te Secwepemculecw First Nation lost more than 80 structures. B.C.'s Forest Practices Board was also investigating the province's response to the same wildfires after receiving a complaint from a local resident. Jim Cooperman told The Canadian Press in 2023 that he filed the complaint alleging 'gross negligence' by the B.C. Wildfire Service in conducting the burn just beyond power lines about two kilometres from his home in Lee Creek. Cooperman said he was convinced it was the planned ignition, not the wildfires themselves, that raced down the slope on Aug. 18. He said the power lines meant to act as a fire break were surrounded by dead brush and instead became a 'conduit' for the flames. The fire would eventually stop about 15 metres from the back of his home on the property where Cooperman has lived since 1969. Cooperman said it's his understanding that the report from the Forest Practices Board's investigation is still being finalized. In an email on Tuesday, he said the WorkSafeBC report 'confirms the concerns' of many in the area, that the wildfire service was irresponsible and unethical in conducting the ignition 'just prior to a major windstorm.' The community is still 'reeling' from the destructive firestorm, he said, adding it caused 'severe' economic and emotional stress for local residents. 'Since the fire we have been seeking accountability from the B.C. government,' Cooperman said. 'This report strengthens our case.' The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says interviews with workers involved in the burn revealed a 'lack of planning contributed the entrapment incident.' The B.C. Wildfire Service's own analysis report following the incident mentions there was 'no consideration towards ground resource co-ordination' as part of the planning process for the ignition, the inspection report says. It says groundcrews were given 'limited verbal instructions but were not given a briefing prior to this ignition operation.' The report says such an 'advanced' operation would have required an ignition specialist to be present, but no one involved held that designation. It also says the B.C. Wildfire Service's 'facilitated learning analysis' following the incident referenced workers being given verbal instructions, 'but there was not time for a planning session on the ground.' The Forests Ministry has said the planned ignition was complete within roughly two hours. 'The purpose of (the burn) was not to contain the wildfire but reduce its intensity and provide a greater chance of survival to any structures in its projected path,' it said in response to a previous request for comment. 'While we know the extreme conditions on the day resulted in significant structure loss, we know the planned ignition saved structures in Lee Creek.' A bulletin posted by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District at 8:30 p.m. on the day of the planned ignition said the operation was successful. The aerial ignition of about 26 square kilometres was conducted 'along the power line in the North Shuswap … creating a significant guard line,' it said. Cooperman said his daughter called at about 12:15 p.m. the following day to say she could see flames in the hills above nearby Scotch Creek. He had packed up and left by 1:15 p.m., about an hour before the district issued an evacuation order for the Lee Creek and Scotch Creek areas. 'Our home place is now just ashes and burnt sticks. It's very difficult for us,' Cooperman said in an interview in the fall of 2023. A few days after the firestorm, the director of operations for the B.C. Wildfire Service defended the planned ignition, saying sustained high winds that changed the course of the fire were responsible for much of the damage. 'I want to be perfectly clear: that planned ignition saved hundreds of homes and properties along the north Shuswap,' Cliff Chapman told media.
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Epoch Times
Wildfire Prompts Evacuations in Fort St. John, BC, City Says
Firefighters from Fort St. John, B.C., and the provincial wildfire service were battling a blaze that prompted evacuations late Thursday, the city said. A bulletin on the city's website posted at 6:04 p.m. said the fire is located in the Fish Creek Community Forest on the northern outskirts of the city. The bulletin had directed evacuees from Rose Prairie Road and the Jones subdivision area to proceed to the Pomeroy Sport Centre. An update on the city's Facebook page around 9 p.m. stated the emergency support services reception centre at the Pomeroy had been closed. It did not provide the number of people forced out of their homes or any further details. The BC Wildfire Service website indicates the out-of-control blaze was discovered Thursday and spanned an estimated 0.56 square kilometres as of 7:32 p.m. The suspected cause of the fire is human activity. Related Stories 4/24/2025 3/31/2025 The service said it had 12 firefighters, two helicopters and airtankers working alongside crews from Fort St. John, Taylor and Charlie Lake. Kelly Greene, B.C.'s minister of emergency management, said in a social media post that she was aware of a fire affecting Fort St. John residents. The fire is one of nearly two dozen active across B.C. on Thursday, as the provincial government warned that a combination of warm, dry conditions and strong winds would raise the fire risk in southern parts of B.C. It's one of two blazes classified as burning out of control, the other being a 1.85-square-kilometre blaze that began as two separate fires about 30 kilometres southwest of Dawson Creek, which is located south of Fort St. John. A social media post from the wildfire service on Thursday said groundcrews were working to contain that fire with support from helicopters. It said southwesterly winds were pushing the fire toward Highway 52 North, also known as Heritage Highway, which was open to single-lane alternating traffic along a stretch between Brassey and Bearhole Lake roads. Meanwhile, Mounties in Tumbler Ridge, about 120 kilometres south of Dawson Creek, said a wildfire had destroyed their fibre optic connection, and telephone, cellphone, radio and internet services were down. An RCMP statement said anyone requiring police assistance in the Tumbler Ridge area will need to go to the detachment in person. Three other fires in the same cluster in the Dawson Creek area are classified as 'being held,' the wildfire service said, meaning the flames are not expected to spread beyond their existing area. A statement from the Forests Ministry earlier Thursday said the wildfire service was urging people to postpone any open burning until the windy conditions pass, and to use extra care for any backcountry camping. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said weather over the next several days 'could set the stage for dangerous wildfire conditions across the province.' He said this time of year carries the highest risk of wildfires caused by human activity, most of which are 'entirely preventable.' Open burning prohibitions are expected to take effect in the coming weeks.
National Observer
07-05-2025
- General
- National Observer
Planned burn could have killed trapped firefighters, concludes BC safety report
British Columbia 's worker protection agency says a planned burn by the province's wildfire service during the devastating 2023 fire season could have killed or injured multiple firefighters who became "trapped by extreme fire behaviour" that cut off their escape. Inspection reports by WorkSafeBC say the BC Wildfire Service didn't adequately ensure safety during the burn in the Shuswap region on Aug. 17 that year, and a group of trapped Brazilian firefighters had to retreat to a "safe zone." WorkSafeBC says they had to burn off fuel around their truck and spend the night because of low visibility, smoke, fire activity and falling trees. They were picked up the next day by another crew that "cut their way into the site." "Other crews reportedly had to navigate off-road and around a burning pile of logging debris when the fire overcame the escape route causing damage to some trucks and causing one truck to nearly roll over in the process," one of the reports says. A report dated Aug. 1, 2024, was obtained by The Canadian Press, while two other reports dated Aug. 30 and Dec. 6 were later provided by WorkSafeBC in response to inquiries. The Forests Ministry has previously said the planned ignition took place along a 10-kilometre stretch of power lines with the goal of reducing fuels in the path of an advancing wildfire, which went on to destroy dozens of homes. The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says that after fire activity increased and compromised the escape route, the trapped Brazilian firefighters sheltered in an open area below power transmission lines, where they parked their truck. "The planning and execution of this ignition operation was not adequate to ensure worker safety and workers were put at risk as a result," it concludes. The employer did not provide adequate information, instruction, training or supervision for the crews involved, the report says, and the incident "could have resulted in multiple serious injuries or fatalities of workers." It adds that "workers did not exercise their right to refuse unsafe work," and the employer is responsible for ensuring workers are aware of their right. In response to a request for comment, the Forests Ministry said its priority is always the safety of the public and fire responders. The BC Wildfire Service has been in compliance with the order from WorkSafeBC as of Dec. 6, 2024, after taking steps to update processes and procedures for planned ignitions, the ministry said in a statement. The WorkSafeBC report from that date confirms the service had complied with its order, but notes the agency had determined there were grounds for imposing an administrative penalty over the "near miss" incident. In an email on Tuesday, the agency said it is "now considering appropriate enforcement action" related to the planned ignition operation. The agency noted its inspection reports are not posted publicly, but they are available upon request following review and redaction for privacy reasons. At the time of the planned ignition on Aug. 17, two wildfires — the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek blazes — had been steadily moving toward the northern shore of Shuswap Lake after they started about five weeks earlier. Whipped up by high winds the next day, the fires went on to destroy more than 170 properties and damage dozens more in the Shuswap area. The Skwlax te Secwepemculecw First Nation lost more than 80 structures. BC's Forest Practices Board was also investigating the province's response to the same wildfires after receiving a complaint from a local resident. Jim Cooperman told The Canadian Press in 2023 that he filed the complaint alleging "gross negligence" by the BC Wildfire Service in conducting the burn just beyond power lines about two kilometres from his home in Lee Creek. Cooperman said he was convinced it was the planned ignition, not the wildfires themselves, that raced down the slope on Aug. 18. He said the power lines meant to act as a fire break were surrounded by dead brush and instead became a "conduit" for the flames. The fire would eventually stop about 15 metres from the back of his home on the property where Cooperman has lived since 1969. Cooperman said it's his understanding that the report from the Forest Practices Board's investigation is still being finalized. In an email on Tuesday, he said the WorkSafeBC report "confirms the concerns" of many in the area, that the wildfire service was irresponsible and unethical in conducting the ignition "just prior to a major windstorm." The community is still "reeling" from the destructive firestorm, he said, adding it caused "severe" economic and emotional stress for local residents. "Since the fire we have been seeking accountability from the BC government," Cooperman said. "This report strengthens our case." The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says interviews with workers involved in the burn revealed a "lack of planning contributed the entrapment incident." The BC Wildfire Service's own analysis report following the incident mentions there was "no consideration towards ground resource co-ordination" as part of the planning process for the ignition, the inspection report says. It says ground crews were given "limited verbal instructions but were not given a briefing prior to this ignition operation." The report says such an "advanced" operation would have required an ignition specialist to be present, but no one involved held that designation. It also says the BC Wildfire Service's "facilitated learning analysis" following the incident referenced workers being given verbal instructions, "but there was not time for a planning session on the ground." The Forests Ministry has said the planned ignition was complete within roughly two hours. "The purpose of (the burn) was not to contain the wildfire but reduce its intensity and provide a greater chance of survival to any structures in its projected path," it said in response to a previous request for comment. "While we know the extreme conditions on the day resulted in significant structure loss, we know the planned ignition saved structures in Lee Creek." A bulletin posted by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District at 8:30 p.m. on the day of the planned ignition said the operation was successful. The aerial ignition of about 26 square kilometres was conducted "along the power line in the North Shuswap … creating a significant guard line," it said. Cooperman said his daughter called at about 12:15 p.m. the following day to say she could see flames in the hills above nearby Scotch Creek. He had packed up and left by 1:15 p.m., about an hour before the district issued an evacuation order for the Lee Creek and Scotch Creek areas. "Our home place is now just ashes and burnt sticks. It's very difficult for us," Cooperman said in an interview in the fall of 2023. A few days after the firestorm, the director of operations for the BC Wildfire Service defended the planned ignition, saying sustained high winds that changed the course of the fire were responsible for much of the damage. "I want to be perfectly clear: that planned ignition saved hundreds of homes and properties along the north Shuswap," Cliff Chapman told media. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025.
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Planned Burn Could Have Killed Trapped Firefighters, Says BC Safety Report
British Columbia's worker protection agency says a planned burn by the province's wildfire service during the devastating 2023 fire season could have killed or injured multiple firefighters who became 'trapped by extreme fire behaviour' that cut off their escape. Inspection reports by WorkSafeBC say the BC Wildfire Service didn't adequately ensure safety during the burn in the Shuswap region on Aug. 17 that year, and a group of trapped Brazilian firefighters had to retreat to a 'safe zone.' WorkSafeBC says they had to burn off fuel around their truck and spend the night because of low visibility, smoke, fire activity and falling trees. They were picked up the next day by another crew that 'cut their way into the site.' 'Other crews reportedly had to navigate off-road and around a burning pile of logging debris when the fire overcame the escape route causing damage to some trucks and causing one truck to nearly roll over in the process,' one of the reports says. A report dated Aug. 1, 2024, was obtained by The Canadian Press, while two other reports dated Aug. 30 and Dec. 6 were later provided by WorkSafeBC in response to inquiries. Related Stories 5/5/2025 5/2/2025 The Forests Ministry has previously said the planned ignition took place along a 10-kilometre stretch of power lines with the goal of reducing fuels in the path of an advancing wildfire, which went on to destroy dozens of homes. The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says that after fire activity increased and compromised the escape route, the trapped Brazilian firefighters sheltered in an open area below power transmission lines, where they parked their truck. 'The planning and execution of this ignition operation was not adequate to ensure worker safety and workers were put at risk as a result,' it concludes. The employer did not provide adequate information, instruction, training or supervision for the crews involved, the report says, and the incident 'could have resulted in multiple serious injuries or fatalities of workers.' It adds that 'workers did not exercise their right to refuse unsafe work,' and the employer is responsible for ensuring workers are aware of their right. In response to a request for comment, the Forests Ministry said its priority is always the safety of the public and fire responders. The BC Wildfire Service has been in compliance with the order from WorkSafeBC as of Dec. 6, 2024, after taking steps to update processes and procedures for planned ignitions, the ministry said in a statement. The WorkSafeBC report from that date confirms the service had complied with its order, but notes the agency had determined there were grounds for imposing an administrative penalty over the 'near miss' incident. In an email on Tuesday, the agency said it is 'now considering appropriate enforcement action' related to the planned ignition operation. The agency noted its inspection reports are not posted publicly, but they are available upon request following review and redaction for privacy reasons. At the time of the planned ignition on Aug. 17, two wildfires—the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek blazes—had been steadily moving toward the northern shore of Shuswap Lake after they started about five weeks earlier. Whipped up by high winds the next day, the fires went on to destroy more than 170 properties and damage dozens more in the Shuswap area. The Skwlax te Secwepemculecw First Nation lost more than 80 structures. B.C.'s Forest Practices Board was also investigating the province's response to the same wildfires after receiving a complaint from a local resident. Jim Cooperman told The Canadian Press in 2023 that he filed the complaint alleging 'gross negligence' by the BC Wildfire Service in conducting the burn just beyond power lines about two kilometres from his home in Lee Creek. Cooperman said he was convinced it was the planned ignition, not the wildfires themselves, that raced down the slope on Aug. 18. He said the power lines meant to act as a fire break were surrounded by dead brush and instead became a 'conduit' for the flames. The fire would eventually stop about 15 metres from the back of his home on the property where Cooperman has lived since 1969. Cooperman said it's his understanding that the report from the Forest Practices Board's investigation is still being finalized. In an email on Tuesday, he said the WorkSafeBC report 'confirms the concerns' of many in the area, that the wildfire service was irresponsible and unethical in conducting the ignition 'just prior to a major windstorm.' The community is still 'reeling' from the destructive firestorm, he said, adding it caused 'severe' economic and emotional stress for local residents. 'Since the fire we have been seeking accountability from the B.C. government,' Cooperman said. 'This report strengthens our case.' The Aug. 1 WorkSafeBC report says interviews with workers involved in the burn revealed a 'lack of planning contributed the entrapment incident.' The BC Wildfire Service's own analysis report following the incident mentions there was 'no consideration towards ground resource co-ordination' as part of the planning process for the ignition, the inspection report says. It says ground crews were given 'limited verbal instructions but were not given a briefing prior to this ignition operation.' The report says such an 'advanced' operation would have required an ignition specialist to be present, but no one involved held that designation. It also says the BC Wildfire Service's 'facilitated learning analysis' following the incident referenced workers being given verbal instructions, 'but there was not time for a planning session on the ground.' The Forests Ministry has said the planned ignition was complete within roughly two hours. 'The purpose of (the burn) was not to contain the wildfire but reduce its intensity and provide a greater chance of survival to any structures in its projected path,' it said in response to a previous request for comment. 'While we know the extreme conditions on the day resulted in significant structure loss, we know the planned ignition saved structures in Lee Creek.' A bulletin posted by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District at 8:30 p.m. on the day of the planned ignition said the operation was successful. The aerial ignition of about 26 square kilometres was conducted 'along the power line in the North Shuswap … creating a significant guard line,' it said. Cooperman said his daughter called at about 12:15 p.m. the following day to say she could see flames in the hills above nearby Scotch Creek. He had packed up and left by 1:15 p.m., about an hour before the district issued an evacuation order for the Lee Creek and Scotch Creek areas. 'Our home place is now just ashes and burnt sticks. It's very difficult for us,' Cooperman said in an interview in the fall of 2023. A few days after the firestorm, the director of operations for the BC Wildfire Service defended the planned ignition, saying sustained high winds that changed the course of the fire were responsible for much of the damage. 'I want to be perfectly clear: that planned ignition saved hundreds of homes and properties along the north Shuswap,' Cliff Chapman told media.
