Chief calls for co-operation to prevent fires as world changes at a ‘rapid pace’
Chief Greg Gabriel, whose members are among the evacuees, says that could mean looking at logging practices and addressing drought conditions.
Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel has called for greater cooperation to prevent fires in the wake of events like the recent wildfire that displaced thousands in the Okanagan region. Gabriel, whose community was among those affected, believes that issues such as logging practices and worsening drought conditions may have contributed to the disaster. He has urged the provincial government to implement an alternative emergency exit route from affected communities, as Highway 97 is currently blocked by the wildfire.
B.C. Premier David Eby acknowledged the urgent need for secondary egress roads, stating that the Transportation Ministry will investigate which routes to prioritize. Last Friday, approximately 20,000 individuals were evacuated from their homes in Summerland and surrounding areas due to the rapid spread of the Bald Range fire. The current situation remains uncertain, as the fire continues to be uncontrolled and a lightning storm with unpredictable winds is forecasted.
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