Province needs to prepare for new wildfire reality: U of S prof says
In the wake of unprecedented wildfire evacuations and a nine-figure firefighting bill, northern communities and the province of Saskatchewan need to rethink the way they prepare for and respond to wildfires.
So says Toddi Steelman, a professor and executive director of the school of environment and sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan.
“In general, if we’re going to have higher temperatures, which is what climate change is really about … we’re going to have more wildfires,” Steelman said, noting more intense fire seasons have become an “international phenomenon.”
The province has promised to conduct an inquiry into this summer’s fire response once the season ends. The cost of fighting northern fires is expected to top $100 million, roughly double what was allocated in the 2015-16 budget.