Doug Donaldson

Nick Raeside is certainly correct in saying that wildfire management practices have changed in British Columbia since 1957 (“The changing face of B.C. forest fires”, Oct. 8). The challenges that the B.C. Wildfire Service faces have also changed dramatically over the past 60 years, due in part to increased development in rural areas, the impact of mountain pine beetle infestations on our forests and the growing effects of climate change. …B.C.’s wildfire management professionals use advanced fire-detection and firefighting technology to “hit hard and hit fast.” In recent decades, that approach has been coupled with a better understanding of wildfire behaviour and how fire can help renew forests where lives and property are not at risk. Our first priority is public safety.