An After-Action Report (AAR) report of the 2023 wildfire season has made recommendations to improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations.
It explored areas of preparedness enhancement and standardization, staff wellness and resilience and continuous improvement and adaptation.
The Regional District Central Okanagan Board received the report at its July 25 meeting.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working right now to categorize all of the recommendations into timelines,鈥� said 琉璃神社 Fire Chief and Emergency Program Coordinator Dwight Seymour.
The timelines cover three months to three years.
AAR recommendations include refining operational protocols such as evacuation procedures and prioritizing workload management and mental health support for staff.
鈥淚t excites me that we鈥檙e going to learn and improve, and that鈥檚 what needs to happen,鈥� West 琉璃神社 Director Rick de Jong said.
The report also highlighted the collaboration of agencies involved in the 2023 wildfires, that no lives were lost, and that thousands of homes were saved.
There was also a call from some directors to push wildfire prevention measures.
鈥淲e have a role to play,鈥� said Electoral Area West Director Wayne Carson. 鈥淚 believe that is to bring wildfire forward so that it鈥檚 part of the building code鈥referably by the provincial government.鈥�
Carson added homes and firefighters will continue to be at risk of wildfires unless such measures are implemented more broadly.
Peachland Director Keith Thom agreed.
鈥淚 believe that if we took 10 per cent of the money spent on fighting fires in the province and put it in the hands of prevention, we would drastically decrease the number of fires we have in this area.鈥�
The AAR is available through the .
