Twice in the last three years, communities on western Vancouver Island found themselves cut off by a wildfire that closed their lone road to the rest of the island. It has prompted rising safety concerns, and now, work by local First Nations and regional leaders to create a proposal for a second route to connect communities including Port Alberni and Tofino. Ditidaht First Nation Chief Counsellor Judi Thomas said an alternative public, paved road is vital for members of her community to access groceries, medical appointments, economic development and emergency services, and to serve as an evacuation route. “For the Ditidaht people, it’s beyond a necessity — it’s part of the need for public safety, it’s part of reconciliation, and it’s really a community resilience issue,” she said. “No community should have to wonder whether an emergency responder can reach them in time or not.”