B.C. must shore up risk crisis communications before, during, after wildfires: report

Upgrades to communications systems in British Columbia's wildfire zones are needed to save lives and properties, says a report released Wednesday.

The Thompson Rivers University report, which examined B.C.'s communications practices during the devastating wildfire seasons of 2017 and 2018, calls for improvements to better inform people about risks before, during and following wildfires.

The report didn't look at the most recent wildfire season in the province, but its recommendations remain current and apply to the fire-ravaged communities of Lytton and Monte Creek that faced communication challenges last summer, said Prof. Michael Mehta, who led the study.

"When it comes to wildfire risk management and other disasters, we need to improve dramatically, right now, how we deal with things before they happen, while they're occurring and follow up, especially if there's damage like Lytton, B.C.,'' Mehta said in an interview.

Much of Lytton, located about 250 kilometres north of Vancouver, was destroyed by wildfire on June 30, following consecutive days of record-setting temperatures above 45 C.

Two people died in the fire.

In August, homes and buildings in the community of Monte Lake, located between Vernon and Kamloops, were destroyed by a wildfire.