Wildfire Mitigation Recommendations – The Blackwell Report
Written in 2018 and kept as originally published. Ages, figures and references to “recent” events reflect that time.
This is the Blackwell Report, which was commissioned by the RMOW. It outlined the fire hazard dangers within Whistler and the surrounding areas, due to what is clearly mismanaged logging and tree planting.
It is frightening!!!
It made many recommendations, but provided several achievable targets to effectively mitigate the problem. There were two ten-year options.
Option 1 dealt with only 25% of the problem over ten years, so would take 40 years to complete. Option 1 would cost the RMOW approximately $1 million per year.
Option 2 dealt with 50% of the problem over ten years, so would take 20 years to complete. Option 2 would cost the RMOW approximately $2 million per year.
The council chose Option 1 over Option 2, for a savings of approximately $1 million a year. Option 1 is almost useless, though, as when they are finished, they will have to start all over again. In the meantime, this does nothing to address the "clear and present danger" of the outstanding forest that lies waiting to be treated.
We will be safe eventually, but we must be patient and hope that in the next 40 years, a fire does not start.
Originally published October 3, 2018 on lancebright.com.