Whereas the effects of climate change are increasing disaster intensity, duration, frequency, and scale of emergencies and regional districts do not have the ability to increase the capacity of personnel, finances, or resources to meet the demands within identified jurisdictional fire protection zones to manage the increasing number of local wildfire emergencies; And whereas the Province of British Columbia has outlined changes to the Cooperative Community Wildfire Response program with an unattainable expectation of the role expected of the regional district that includes the expectation the service area goes beyond established regional district fire protection zones: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of BC to assume full responsibility of wildfire response efforts in areas outside of fire protection zones, with recognition of operational capacities of regional districts; And be it further resolved that UBCM request the Province of BC to support collaboration between BC Wildfire Service and regional districts to share resources in continued efforts to effectively respond to wildfire emergencies and enhance community resilience.
