March 1 - 30

COF Reports $350,000 in Contributions (March  8 - 3:35 pm)
The Central Okanagan Foundation has distributed more than $350,000 to date to individuals and charitable groups impacted by the Okanagan Mountain Park Forest Fire last summer.

Fire Money Decisions (March  8 - 6:40 am)
City Council should find out this afternoon where the remaining money from the Okanagan Fire Recovery Centre Society will be distributed. Chair David Rush is to make a presentation at the beginning of the council meeting. It's believed there may be as much as $450,000 left in the fund. Only six applicants received money from the Society as of the end of last year because they didn't have insurance. The unmet needs committee made decisions on about 250 applications. Last summer's Okanagan Mountain Park fire destroyed 244 homes in Kelowna and forced mass evacuations.

	February 1 - 29

Zimmermann Wants Answers  (February  29 - 7:16 am)
Kelowna Fire Chief Gerry Zimmermann has read the Filmon Firestorm 2003 Report on the internet. He is currently on his honeymoon in Mexico. He says one thing the report doesn't indicate is who is ultimately in charge in an emergency situation. Zimmermann plans to ask that chain of command question when he returns to Canada. Former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon has recommended that the B.C. government conduct controlled burns and selective logging of parks to reduce the threat of wildfires. Okanagan scientist Tom Chapman, whose home barely escaped being burned, has lobbied Victoria for years to introduce controlled burning to reduce the dry fuels in B.C. forests. However the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union has responded with a renewed call for increased provincial funding for forest protection and fire prevention activities.

Filmon Report Released (February  27 - 10:15 am)
Gary Filmon has presented his Fire Report findings to BC's cabinet. Filmon's 42 recommendations include prescribed burning, harvesting in parks, mandatory emergency plans, new building codes, better communications, more local decision making. Mike DeJong BC's Forestry Minister says he'll implement most of the report's findings.  Reaction from municipal officials including Barriere and Kelowna have been favorable.  Carole James, the NDP leader, wonders where the money is supporting the report's recommendations.  Click to hear Gary Filmon's full presentation to cabinet.  Click the button above to view the full report also (PDF Report 8 MB).  See also our audio pages of the Filmon Hearings.

Filmon Report Out Today (February  27 - 8:12 am)
The public will get its first look at the Gary Filmon report today at 9 am. The former Premier of Manitoba was appointed by BC Premier Gordon Campbell to look into how last summer's wildfires were handled and to help prevent a similar disaster from happening again. The report was handed over to the Campbell government a couple of weeks ago. It will be released at an open Cabinet meeting at the Legislature today.  The southern interior's CBC Radio will carry the report live.  We'll post a link to the report and provide an audio archive of the Filmon's presentation to the BC cabinet.

Okanagan Mountain Fire 2003 Exhibit (February  25)
The Okanagan Nature Centre Society will lease the City Park Pavilion between March 1 and October 31 to house an exhibit on the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. The $1 lease includes the Pavilion and Hot Sands concessions.

South Slopes Logging (February  25)
City Council has extended the 4:00 a.m. start for logging operations in the South Slopes from March 1 to March 31, 2004.

Open House for Mission Residents: Drainage Project (February  23)
The City of Kelowna is holding an Open House for Mission residents interested in learning more about drainage improvements soon to be underway in their neighbourhoods.
Okanagan Mission Community Hall
4409 Lakeshore Road
Wednesday February 25, 2004
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

The City has several drainage improvements planned for completion within the next eight weeks; all are designed to reduce the potential flood threat arising from the watershed devastation caused by last summer’s Okanagan Mountain Park fire.

The meeting will begin with a presentation by the City’s consultant at 7:00 p.m. City staff will be available to answer questions and residents will receive an information package outlining steps that can be taken to protect private property when a flood threat exists. Further information on flood preparations is also readily available on the Provincial Emergency Program’s website: www.pep.bc.ca under Hazard Preparedness.

The total value of all fire-related drainage improvements is estimated to be $2 million. The drainage improvements will include the installation of large diameter culverts and the construction of rock-lined drainage channels.

During rainstorm events, water flows over fire-impacted areas have the potential to be in excess of five times the flows normally expected, based on pre-fire conditions in these watersheds. Barring an unusual weather event, snowmelt is not anticipated to be of concern.

Residents can expect to see “muddy” flows in all of the creeks affected during this year’s spring runoff, and during and after spring and summer rains. Individual homeowners may also experience nuisance problems associated with mud/debris on property and on public roads, particularly areas that are below burned hillsides.

The fire ravaged the southern boundaries of Kelowna and over 26,000 hectares of land south and east of the city in August and September of 2003. Approximately 16,000 of those hectares are within watersheds that ultimately drain through the city. The extreme rainfall event and subsequent flooding of October 22, 2003 reinforced that significant changes to the hydrology of the watersheds have occurred.

With the virtual destruction of all vegetation these changes include the loss of evapotranspiration and the reduced interception of rain and snowfall. However, the most significant change is the creation of hydrophobic soils. Hydrophobic soils are water repellant, which means the infiltration capacity of the soil is near zero and water is not absorbed into the ground. This condition will improve over time, with a significant improvement in the soil’s ability to absorb water within three to five years.

To limit the increased risk of flooding in areas of the city accepting drainage off the south slopes, City Council endorsed a program of drainage improvements that will provide a service level equivalent to a one in 25 year rainfall event for the changed conditions, including hydrophobic soils for watersheds impacted by the fire.

The consultant’s report on the hydrological changes to the fire-impacted watersheds can be viewed on the City’s website, www.city.kelowna.bc.ca under Department/Works and Utilities/Drainage/Documents.

Large Grinder Now at Work to Dispose of Fire-Impacted Wood (February  18)
A new “Diamond Z” 950 horsepower tub grinder, one of the largest grinders manufactured, has arrived in the Central Okanagan from Massachusetts, U.S.A.

The grinder is being used to dispose of woody debris from residential lots of one hectare (2.5 acres) or less impacted by the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Burned logs, branches and stumps will be ground into wood chips at Arthon Construction’s Crawford Quarry, and then trucked to Riverside Forest Products where the product will be used for power generation in Riverside’s Cogeneration Plant.

Approximately 1,500 cubic metres of woody debris now stockpiled at the site should be ground by Sunday February 22nd. Residents of these fire-impacted properties may drop off woody debris until Monday March 15th, at which time the grinding company will make one final visit to the drop site. Sun Oka Valley Transport will resume hauling the ground material next week, at a rate of approximately three large truckloads per week.

The City of Kelowna entered into a contract with Natural Resource Recovery Group in the fall to grind the burned or felled trees. Work began in November with a smaller grinder and continued through mid-December; approximately 3,000 cubic metres of woody debris were processed during that time.

The City organized the wood collection and disposal program to assist owners of fire-affected properties in their clean up efforts in a cost efficient manner. Trench burning of the woody debris resulting from the Okanagan Mountain Park fire was initially considered, but grinding of the debris is a more environmentally friendly option. Burning will only be carried out on any material unsuitable for power production.

Fire Report Ready (February  14 - 7:14 am)
The much anticipated findings of a review of last summer’s wildfires in BC are due to be released this weekend. Premier Campbell appointed former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon to conduct the review to assess what can be learned from the experience. Campbell says the review will be completed by tomorrow so new measures can be adopted before the 2004 fire season. He says the report will also create a tighter structure for provincial and municipal governments to deal with fire emergencies and provide a better strategy to release fire information and to seek federal aid. Filmon is being paid $100,000 to put together the report.

Regional Parks Fuel Modification Crews At Work (February  3 - 9:06 am)
Our Regional Parks will be more fire safe and over a dozen people will have full-time work through the end of the year, thanks to a partnership between the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the Government of Canada.

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) is providing a grant of more than $470,000 through the Job Creation Partnership Program, while the Regional District is contributing over $197,000 and employing 15 people as Fuel Modification and Trail Building crewmembers. Three crews of five people are working to reduce the potential fire fuel threat in Regional Parks. They’re limbing, pruning and spacing trees, clearing underbrush and removing ground fuels that could cause a fire to spread within the boundaries of our Regional Parks. Regional Parks Manager Bill Kenney says, “This also helps reduce the threat of fire to neighboring homeowners, as many of our parks have urban interfaces. We look forward to the valuable work these new employees will provide for everyone in the Regional District. While there has been some minor fuel modification work done over the years in the Regional Parks, without the help of Human Resources Development Canada, we wouldn’t be able to tackle a project of this size.” The crews will also do some trail building.

There was incredible interest in the 15 new positions. More than 115 people applied for the Fuel Modification and Trail Building jobs. In order to be considered, prospects had to be unemployed and were either receiving Employment Insurance benefits or had benefits end within the past three years. It’s hoped that the experience gained by the crewmembers will benefit them in the future.

More Fire Money (February  2 - 7:08 pm)
The Kelowna and Area Fire Recovery Society is about to get a large infusion of cash. The Kelowna Volunteer Fire Department will present a cheque for $396,500 to the Society just before a Kelowna Rockets home game Wednesday night. The money comes from the proceeds of a t-shirt sales campaign after last summer's Okanagan Mountain Park fire. The Society won't actually get the whole amount right now though. Volunteer Firefighters are holding back $22,000 from the actual donation until a decision is made on whether GST will have to be paid to the federal government. A total of 46,000 shirts were sold in the campaign, most of them in the Okanagan.

Brent Road Pays For Fires (February  2 - 7:08 pm)
Sometimes you have to see the power of Mother Nature before realizing the value of a service. That's exactly what about 45 property owners in the Brent Road area, just outside of Peachland's southern boundary, have realized after witnessing last summer's Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Now they are willing to pay the extra taxes necessary to have the services of the Peachland Volunteer Fire Department. Most of those residents have traditionally refused to pay more for fire protection services. The huge fire was across the lake from Brent Road residents but a wildfire in September came pretty close to their neighbourhood. The annual tax hike amounts to $80 on a $100,000 home, and property owners will also help pay to build a $57,000 water storage and hydrant system.

We Like Snow  (February  1 - 12:33 pm)
Drivers may have been put out by the heavy snowfall in the Interior this past week but the Kamloops Forest District has welcomed the weather. Regional Fire Control Manager Dennis Gaudry says the snowfall will help to prevent drought conditions that took place last year, causing unprecedented wildfires.

	January 1 - 31

Trestle Report Ready (January  22 - 2:11pm)
A report on rebuilding the Kettle Valley trestles destroyed by last summer's fire should be on the Premier's desk sometime next week. Local MLA Rick Thorpe says the price tag to rebuild the 12 trestles isn't as big as originally thought. The original estimate was roughly $30 million. Premier Campbell should have the report by next Wednesday.

Last Chance to Apply for Funds (January  21 - 3:08pm)
This is your last opportunity to apply for financial assistance from local fire relief funds. To be eligible you must apply by Friday January 30th. The relief funds will be distributed by the end of February.

Call the Fire Recovery Centre at 868-2632 to schedule an appointment. You’ll need to complete a Client Needs Assessment Form. Appointments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday January 30th.

Again please call 868-2632 to schedule an appointment.

Across the Lake: The Fire From Our Eyes  (January  17 - 3:15 pm)
An exhibition running from January 6 to February 6 at the Rotary Centre for the Arts will showcase artwork by children who hold a unique perspective of the summer’s fire. Adjacent to the wildfire of the Okanagan Mountain Park, and separated by only an expanse of lake, children and staff from the Sensisyusten First Nation School have rendered their impressions of the fire. Kelowna law firm Berge Horn is the framing sponsor for this exhibit. Everyone is welcome to view the exhibit for free.

This exciting exhibition focuses on the work of students and staff from Sensisyusten (House of Learning) First Nation School, an independent elementary school situated on the Okanagan, Westbank First Nation reserve. The exhibition, curated by Gayle E. Liman, Artist-in-Residence and Art Educator at Sensisyusten, will run concurrently with the Alternator Gallery’s exhibition “Interface” (depicting how disaster is experienced in Canada in the 21st century), and the Kelowna Art Gallery exhibition “Looking Back: Reflections of the Okanagan Mountain Fire.”

On Friday, January 16, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. the Rotary Centre for the Arts will be hosting the opening reception of, Across the Lake: The Fire From Our Eyes. This opening reception is open to the public and the media, and is free of charge. The curator of the exhibit as well as featured artists will be present, and the opening will include performances by drummers and dancers from the Okanagan First Nation.

Gayle Liman is an artist/designer, independent curator and art educator who, works in a diverse range of media. Her formal education has been complemented by extensive travel and study through Latin America and learning gathered from indigenous cultures worldwide. Her primary focus in education is teaching and promoting the art of children. Ms. Liman’s art works have been exhibited in corporate, public and private gallery collections and include permanent installations in the Smithsonian Institution, National Zoological Park, Washington DC, and the Radisson Hotel in Miami.

Silver Star Park to Have Fuel Reduction (January  14 - 7:23 pm)
The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection has approved a fuel reduction program for Silver Star Provincial Park to reduce the wildfire risk to the public, park facilities, nearby homes and the ski resort, Okanagan-Vernon MLA Tom Christensen announced today.

"A wildfire in Silver Star Park would pose a serious threat to public safety, park facilities and nearby developments," said Christensen. "By removing the pine beetle infested fuel, we will have a much better chance of suppressing a wildfire."

The program will focus on the removal of dead or dying trees which have been infected by the mountain pine beetle. Removal of the affected trees will reduce forest fuels which have increased over the years as a result of successful fire suppression and the mountain pine beetle infestation. The tree removal is planned to take place over three years. 

Commercial logging is not permitted in provincial parks; however, tree removal operations are permitted for ecological, health and safety or forest health purposes. While fuel reduction followed by controlled burning is the preferred method to reduce fuels, a controlled burn in the park is not an option because of the proximity to the ski resort and homes.

North Okanagan Regional District chair Stan Field applauds the tree removal program. "Silver Star Provincial Park contains more than $2.5 million worth of facilities, trails and recreational developments.  The adjacent Silver Star Mountain Resort located above the park contains over $500 million worth of facilities owned both by the resort and the public. Any wildfires in the park would undoubtedly threaten both the park recreational values and the
resort," he said.

The tree removal program was developed with, among others, the support of First Nations, resort operators, regional district and local recreational and environmental groups.

The Okanagan and Spallumcheen Indian bands are expected to play a significant role in the fuel reduction program.

"As stewards of the land, the people of the Okanagan Indian Band feel it is unfortunate that trees have to be removed. But the critical issue is public safety, and we are very supportive of working together to this end," Chief Lyle Brewer said. "This is a vital area for the Syilx-speaking people. The mountain has spiritual significance for us, and our elders speak of the importance of water from the mountain. Maintaining the health of these resources during this program is a high priority for us."

Chief Brewer also sees the need for collaboration between the band and the provincial government. "We also look forward to a longer term working relationship with BC Parks and other stakeholders in addressing resource management issues within the parks."

Spallumcheen Chief Gloria Morgan saidher band recognizes that the wildfires of 2003 have impacted all interest groups because of the volatile nature of our forests and the need for fuel load reduction.

"The Silver Star Mountain area is of great importance to the Splatsin people for many reasons and our elders have given us clear instructions that this area needs to be protected for our future generations," she said. "We anticipate managing forest health issues in partnership with government, industry and other First Nations. We are also looking forward to participating in jobs associated with salvage harvesting which addresses pine beetle infestations and the subsequent fuel loading."

The Spallumcheen Indian Band is working on concluding the details of a contract in partnership with government that will create salvage harvesting opportunities to deal with forest fuel reduction within Silver Star Park.

The Ministry of Forests expects to award tenures for the project by the end of the month, with work to begin in early February. BC Parks has already issued permits for construction of the roads and landings.

Pine beetles first appeared in Silver Star Park about 10 years ago. Since then, they have spread to cover about 600 of the park's 4,107 hectares. About 25,000 trees are infected.

Central Okanagan Foundation Grants Rebuilding Funds (January  13 - 11:29 am)
Almost $100,000 has been distributed by the Central Okanagan Foundation to six Kelowna organizations that were severely impacted by this summer's Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire. Grants of $20,000 or more have been awarded to the Kelowna Community Food Bank Society; the Friends of the South Slopes; and the Scouts Canada-Central Okanagan District for Camp Dunlop Rehabilitation. Amounts between $5,000 and $10,000 went to the SPCA-Kelowna Branch; the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society; and to the City of Kelowna for the Quilchena Playground at Kettle Valley.

Fire Exhibition Contribution (January  13 - 11:29 am)
The Regional Board has given approval in principle for the contribution of funds toward an exhibit on fire ecology after last summer’s forest fire.  An initial contribution of $4,000 will be made to the Okanagan Nature Centre Society to prepare the display that it is proposing for the City-owned Pavilion in City Park.  After the exhibit closes in December 2005, a portion of the material created would be used as a permanent outdoor fire interpretation feature in Bertram Creek Regional Park, which was substantially burned by the forest fire.  A further $8,000 Regional District contribution could be made pending approval of the 2004 Five-year Financial Plan.

	December 1 - 31

More Park Fire Money (December  31 - 6:51 am)
There's at least $400,000 left in the Okanagan Fire Recovery Centre Society Fund. That's a conservative estimate of the remaining monies donated to help Kelowna residents affected by this past summer's Okanagan Mountain Park Fire. Janice Henry, Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Foundation, says an unmet needs committee has dealt with a half dozen applications for help over the past four months. Henry says the main criteria the committee looked at was the degree of loss and ability to recover from that loss. Those six applicants did not have insurance and Henry says their cases had to be dealt with immediately. They are now in the process of getting permanent roofs over their heads. Henry says her office has been busy the last week or so writing tax receipts for anyone who donated to the fund which included the yellow ribbon campaign. There is still time for residents to apply for funds. The final deadline is Jan. 30, 2004.

OK Fire Exhibit In The Works (December  24 - 8:54 am)
If everything goes according to plan, the City Park pavilion in Kelowna will soon be the home of an exhibit on the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Officials putting the plan together stress they're still in negotiations with the city but the grand plan is to convert the vacant building into the Okanagan Nature Centre at a cost of $350,000 with funding coming from the private and charitable sectors as well as the government. The tentative opening date is next spring. The goal of the centre is to display the "causes, aftermath, and regeneration relating to the devastating forest fire" and is expected to draw "tens of thousands of local citizens and tourists" each year.

Park Will Be Rebuilt (December  18  - 7:07 am)
Efforts are under way to rebuild what was known as Western Canada's largest wooden play structure that was destroyed by the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire. So far, $30,000 has been raised to rebuild the Kettle Valley Junction Play Centre in South Kelowna. The official cheque presentation was made yesterday at the Fire Recovery Centre on Bernard Ave. The original play centre was built by more than 800 volunteers in September 2000 and took only five days to complete.

"Time for Unity" Released (December  17  - 7:44 am)
Over 50 people attended the launch of a "Time Of Unity" Thursday.  It contains 200 full colour photographs largely submitted by Castanet readers.  See out photo gallery for more. While other fire books are keeping a portion of the proceeds of their books, this book has 100% of net proceeds going to the Kelowna and area Okanagan Fire Relief Fund. Hardcovers are $44.95 while softcovers are going for $29.95.

Since the book raises money for charity, they are hard to find as outlets demand a commission for carrying them.  The three local Save on Foods stores have graciously agreed to carry them commission free.  They are also available at Tiger Marketing located at 5-715 Evans Court which is near Dockside Marine off Highway 97. Call 250-491-0529. They can be ordered online at http://www.okanaganmountainfire.com/

Fire Book Release Thursday (December  10  - 6:44 am)
The much anticipated book dealing solely with the Okanagan Mountain Park fire is due to be released tomorrow. The book, entitled "Time Of Unity" contains 200 full colour photographs with net proceeds going to the Kelowna and area Okanagan Fire Relief Fund. Hardcovers are $44.95 while softcovers are going for $29.95. They will be available at Tiger Marketing located at 5-715 Evans Court which is near Dockside Marine off Highway 97. (250-491-0529)
 

Underground Fires Burning (December  7  - 8:57 am)
It's a timely reminder that some fires from this past summer in Kelowna are still burning. The Kelowna fire department had to deal with what they called a stump fire in the 5100 block of Frost Road near South Crest Drive around 6 o'clock Saturday morning. Firefighters poured a large amount of water on the small blaze and were keeping a close eye on it yesterday morning. Officials say the flare up is from this past summer's Okanagan Mountain Park fire where there are still small areas burning in the underground roots. The spot fire was called in just before 5 a.m. by an area resident. Both Kelowna Fire Department officials and the Forests Ministry say it will take a lot of moisture this winter to completely put out all the underground fires in the area.
 

Another Bad Fire Season Coming (December  5  - 6:54 am)
With the memories of the Okanagan Mountain Park fire still etched in our minds, Forestry officials are already predicting another potential disastrous season next year. Spokesman Kevin Matuga says while there is snow in the Southern Interior, it's not nearly enough to counteract years of drought. He says most of the snow the area is getting is at the higher elevations and the bottom of the Okanagan Valley needs a lot more to soak the ground. Matuga says the forest service is preparing itself for what it sees as another busy forest fire season next summer.
 

Live Christmas Trees Help Fire Impacted Areas  (December  4  - 8:45 am)
With Christmas only three weeks away many people will soon be choosing the perfect tree for their home. Anyone wishing to choose a live tree may be interested in an initiative of the City's Parks Division where living trees, donated by residents, will be offered to property owners who lost trees and landscaping due to the Okanagan Mountain Park fire.

Living trees, potted or balled/burlapped, will be collected in the Mission District Park parking lot off Lexington Drive. A sign will be posted indicating the drop-off area. Trees will be stored between December 27lh and January 15th. Parks staff will then coordinate their distribution to property owners in the fire impacted areas.

Anyone wishing to purchase a live tree should note these trees need to be handled carefully, otherwise their survival rate is poor Please follow these guidelines:

• Lift the tree by the soil ball when it needs to be moved.
• Keep the tree in a cool location prior to moving it indoors. Water soil once a week or as needed. If wrapped in burlap, keep the burlap moist but not too wet.
• Locate the tree indoors in a cool spot, away from heaters or vents. Avoid direct sun from windows.
• Keep a living tree indoors a maximum of three to five days. If kept indoors too long the tree's chances of survival are reduced.

After Christmas the tree should be moved to a cool but sheltered location (such as a garage) for a few weeks to allow it to gradually acclimatize to cool temperatures again.  Water as needed.

Burnt Timber Means Economic Benefits for First Nations (December  2  - 11:26 am)
Ministry of Forests Press Release -  The Westbank First Nation will benefit from an agreement to salvage fire-damaged timber, signed today with Forests Minister Michael de Jong. 

"We're committed to actively pursuing new uses of fire-damaged timber as evidenced by recent letter of intent the Premier signed with Chinese Academy of Forestry," said de Jong. 

"About 30 per cent of the wood burned in this summer's fires is of merchantable quality for high-grade construction products. "

"Last month, the province signed an agreement with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and Little Shuswap Indian Band to salvage over one million cubic metres of burnt timber in the Kamloops area. Today's agreement for some timber in the Okanagan is part of our ongoing effort to create jobs and economic opportunities for the regions affected by the fires. With agreements like this we're also meeting our commitment to increase the participation of First Nations in the forest sector." 

Under the agreement, the Westbank First Nation will be invited to apply for a non-replaceable forest licence for 100,000 cubic metres of timber damaged in this summer's wildfires in the Okanagan timber supply area. 

"Access to wood is critical for First Nations in British Columbia. The fire-damaged timber from the Okanagan Mountain Park fire is fully within the Okanagan traditional territory and is part of the Westbank First Nation's claim to resources," said Chief Robert Louie, Westbank First Nation. 

"The economic benefits from the timber extraction will flow through to not only Westbank First Nation, but to the non-native forestry sector as well." 

As part of the agreement, the Westbank First Nation agrees to an expedited consultation process for harvesting by other licensees. Fire-damaged timber in the Okanagan timber supply area will also awarded to existing licensees as part of their current allocations, and competitively to small business and major licensees. 

"The Westbank First Nation played a vital role in helping to fight this summer's forest fires - volunteering their land to house forest fire fighters," said Rick Thorpe, MLA for Okanagan-Westside. "It's only fitting that fire-damaged timber will be used locally and provide local economic benefits." 

The Westbank First Nation consists of 609 members who live mainly on the west shore of Okanagan Lake across from Kelowna. 

Overall, as part of the ministry's First Nations Forest Strategy, the Minister of Forests has direct awarded more than 4.3 million cubic metres of timber to 16 First Nations since September 2002. 

Fire Funding Initiatives (December 2 - 7:04 am) 
In an effort to offset the economic impact of the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire, two funding initiatives have been announced by Community Futures of the Central Okanagan developed in cooperation with the Economic Development Commission, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Kelowna and the BC Wine Institute. One initiative is a deferment of loan payments, principle and/or interest for existing or new Community Futures loan clients who have been impacted by the fire. New businesses will be assessed individually as part of the loan qualification process. The process will also allow each loan and repayment plan to be tailored to the needs of the business. In addition, a $115,000 non-repayable contribution agreement between Community Futures, the BC Wine Institute and Tourism Kelowna has been created to bolster the local tourism industry in the wake of the fire. Short-term marketing will promote the Okanagan Wine Festivals directly into Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, while longer-term marketing will promote the Okanagan’s golf, cultural tourism and eco-tourism industries. Tourism Kelowna and the BC Wine Institute are contributing an additional $40,000 to the program for a total cost of $155,000.

Fire Concerts Raise Quarter Million (December 2 - 7:04 am) 
The fire relief concerts put on by Canadian rockers Bryan Adams and Colin James have raised more than $250,000. The artists put on a concert at Kelowna's Skyreach place on November 6 before a sold out crowd. They also appeared in Vancouver and Prince George with $10 from all tickets purchased going to the fire relief fund. The three concerts generated more than $264,000. Kelowna will get $108,000 of that sum.

	November 1 - 30

Okanagan Freelance Writers Association  Calls for Submission to "Touch the Flame" (November 28 - 1:26 pm) 

The Okanagan Freelance Writers Association has taken on a fire related project called "Touch the Flame" – a sort of "Chicken Soup for the Fire Survivor's Soul".  They are asking people in the community to contribute their stories of the fire, thoughts, reflections etc., and their group will edit as needed and publish (if all goes as planned) sometime in the spring. 

Just as Castanet brought together a wealth of on-the-spot photos, the Okanagan Freelance Writers Association would like to give people the opportunity to tell their stories - and so many stories are yet to be told.

Everyone working on "Touch the Flame" is a professional writer volunteering his or her time.  All of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to a BC disaster relief fund.

Click here for full press release, poster, and writing guidelines

Christmas Ornament Drive For Fire Victims (November 28 - 1:26 pm) 
Members of the Okanagan Guild of Needle Arts have organized a Christmas ornament drive for fire victims. They have been receiving hand stitched ornaments from across Canada and are nearing their goal of 330. They will also be sending ornaments to the Barrier/McClure area.  The ornaments are currently on display at Hummingbird Cottage Crafts on Rutland Road, and will be taken to the Recovery Centre for distribution about Dec. 1. The Fire Recovery Centre will be calling Kelowna victims to tell them how to pick up an ornament.  Call Heather Dalton at 768-9553 for more information.

Zimmerman Speaks Out (November 26 - 7:38 am) 
Kelowna Fire Chief Gerry Zimmerman will have some nice and not-so-nice things to say when he appears before the Okanagan Mountain Fire Review Panel today. The panel is being chaired by former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon. Zimmerman will tell Filmon how the local response to the fire worked well and how what a valuable role the media played in getting information out about evacuated areas and so forth.

But Zimmerman will have some negative things to say too. His biggest beef is with the Fire Commissioner's office and how it handled itself during the fire. For instance, Zimmerman says he had no idea that the Fire Commissioner's office had taken over command of the fire without his knowledge. Under a State of Emergency, the province has the power to set up a province fire department which has jurisdiction over all fire departments. According to Zimmerman, the provincial government decided to enact that policy without his knowledge. He says that caught him a little off guard.

"We had never discussed that before and when it was created there was nothing written down on how it would operate. So basically, we didn't have a clue on how this thing was going to run, where our boundaries were and who was in charge -- we didn't know those things," says Zimmerman who adds that things got a little testy between his department and the Fire Commissioner's office.

At one point Zimmerman was told by the Fire Commissioner's office that he could be replaced if he didn't cooperate.

"We had a conflict on one part of the operation. We had a plan to fight the fire in a certain area and the Fire Commissioner came to us and said 'no this is what we're doing' and at that point I said that doesn't make any sense to me and that's when the Commissioner made the statement that our boundaries do not exist and that I could be replaced."

Zimmerman will be addressing the panel at 3:45 this afternoon at the Grand. Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray will also be making a presentation. Castanet will be providing live audio coverage of the hearings.

Tobacco Makes Fire Contribution (November 26 - 7:38 am) 
The restoration of Myra Canyon is getting a hefty contribution from a surprising source. Operation I.D., which is a national action campaign designed to help retailers implement a zero tolerance policy with respect to the sale of tobacco products to minors, is contributing $250,000 toward the restoration effort. "The Okanagan has always been supportive of our efforts to put an end to underage tobacco access. Now its Operation I.D.'s turn to support the community's efforts in rebuilding Myra Canyon into a sustainable heritage, tourism and community asset," says spokesperson Helene Ouellet.

Fire Review Here This Week (November 24 - 2:35 pm) 
The provincial panel looking into this summer's devastating forest fire season comes to Kelowna this Wednesday and Thursday. Mayor Walter Gray and the City of Kelowna's planning director Ron Mattiussi are expected to make presentations to the panel. Public sessions are taking place at the Grand Okanagan Hotel. Fire Chief Gerry Zimmermann is also making a presentation at the two day session. Former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon is traveling around the province conducting hearings for the review.

Castanet will be providing live audio coverage of the Firestorm Public Hearings 1 pm to 9 pm Wednesday and Thursday. Check out our new audio page to make sure you have everything you need to listen in.

Seedlings Available Soon (November 16 - 8:35 am) 
The City of Kelowna Parks Division with help from Riverside Forest Products, will co-ordinate the purchase of seedlings on behalf of private property owners affected by the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Although seedlings will not be available until the spring of 2005, orders must be submitted by November 30th in order that seeds can be sown in sufficient quantities. Many thousands of seedlings are required to re-forest fire-affected slope areas within the city of Kelowna. While Tree Canada has committed to supplying shade trees through its "Fire ReLeaf" program to assist property owners in the southern interior who lost their homes, many owners of larger fire-impacted properties are also interested in planting seedlings for slope stability and fire-green affected properties. Contact Ian Wilson At parks, 862-5580 ext. 572, to order a box of evergreens for $60 or $100 for deciduous.

Million Dollar Fire Donation (November 14 - 1:35 pm) 
It's a donation that will be tough to match. Interior Savings Credit Union has announced the creation of a $1 million community development fund to assist in rebuilding many of the public amenities lost to the recent forest fires. The fund will be dedicated exclusively to community-based projects in the 14 communities served by Interior Savings. It will cover the reconstruction of public facilities as well as community and non-profit projects aimed at fire and natural disaster prevention. “To help restore and rebuild the many public amenities lost to the fires, Interior Savings has established a $1 million fund,” says Barry Meckler, president and CEO of the Credit Union. “The Interior Savings Community Development Fund will be used to help rebuild our communities including our parks, playgrounds and hiking trails.” The fund will begin accepting applications immediately. The funding program will remain in operation through December 31, 2006.
 

Fire Bills Coming In  (November 14 - 1:35 pm)
It's just an estimate, but the Canadian Forces figures it will cost BC roughly $10 million for its services in helping to fight last summer's forest fires. More than 2,600 military personnel fought the fires across the province. Fighting the fires cost the provincial government $550 million.

Fire And Beetle Wood (November 9 - 8:18 am) 
Forestry crews are logging in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park to try and remove all the trees that were damaged this past summer. Ministry spokesperson Kirk Hughes says they hope to have all the trees out before next spring's breakup, otherwise they will be no good. Meanwhile Premier Gordon Campbell witnessed the signing of a letter of intent between the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the province's Forestry Innovation Investment to study how wood affected by wildfires and mountain pine beetles in B.C. can be used in China. "A significant portion of the wood impacted by fires and the pine beetle is marketable timber, and we're working with our international customers and the B.C. forest industry to maximize market opportunities for that product, "Campbell said. "This is just one example of how we can open up new opportunities for our forest sector in growing markets like China to help create forest jobs in B.C."
 

BC Pursues Markets for Fire and Beetle Affected Wood  (November 7 - 6:20 am) 
Premier's Office Press Release - BEIJING, CHINA - Premier Gordon Campbell witnessed the signing of a letter of intent between the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the province's Forestry Innovation Investment to study how wood affected by wildfires and mountain pine beetles in B.C. can be used in China.

"A significant portion of the wood impacted by fires and the pine beetle is marketable timber, and we're working with our international customers and the B.C forest industry to maximize market opportunities for that product," Campbell said. "This is just one example of how we can open up new opportunities for our forest sector in growing markets like China to help create forest jobs in B.C."

Under the letter of intent, the Chinese Academy of Forestry will work with Forestry Innovation Investment and B.C. researchers to find new uses for fire and beetle affected wood.

"This partnership provides an opportunity for producers and potential customers to find innovative new uses for this structurally sound timber," Campbell said. "It's a chance to develop positive opportunities out of two recent challenges for our forest industry."

Forest fires in B.C.'s Interior this summer affected more than 260,000 hectares, and an estimated 30 per cent of the forest burned is still marketable timber suitable for high-quality construction-grade products.

In 2003, 4.2 million hectares of pine forest in B.C. has been identified as infested by the pine beetle. An estimated 160 million cubic metres of that affected timber is of merchantable quality, and the province is already working with the industry to develop new products and marketing opportunities for as much of this wood as possible.

The province is also planning and pursuing other ways to bring fire and beetle affected wood to market. This morning, Minister of Forests Michael de Jong announced a direct award of over one million cubic metres of fire-salvaged timber to the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the Little Shuswap Indian Band. The province also directed the Myra Canyon trestle task force to explore ways to maximize the use of local wood in reconstructing the trestles damaged by wildfires.

In addition, as Campbell announced at the Union of B.C. Municipalities, he is convening a special symposium on the pine beetle infestation in Quesnel Nov. 21. The symposium will bring together community leaders, industry and environmental representatives, forest managers, and forest health experts to identify solutions to combat the pine beetle and restore the health of B.C.
forests.
 

Restoring psychological health & well-being after the fires (November 6 - 9:10 am) 
A free public lecture entitled "More than just surviving: Restoring psychological health and well-being after the fires" will be given by Dr. Lynne Zettl and Dr. Edward Josephs, directors of the Canadian Foundation for Trauma Research and Education (CFTRE) on November 11th, from 11:00 am ­2:00 pm at Manteo Resort, 3766 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna.  The lecture will include practical methods for dealing with the psychological and physiological effects in the aftermath of the BC fires.  It is not uncommon for people to have psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, memory impairment and relationship difficulties) and physical symptoms (gastrointestinal distress, headaches, asthma, neck and back pain, insomnia) appear months or even years after a major traumatic event such as a fire.  As well communities hit by a disaster often see an increase in substance abuse, violent and nonviolent crime, and divorce.

Dr. Zettl and Dr. Josephs are both psychologists who founded the CFTRE, a non-profit, charitable organization committed to training professionals in effective techniques for treating the symptoms of trauma.  They have lectured and trained professionals around the world including Russia, Portugal, the UK, the United States and Canada.  The general public as well as emergency service personnel and health care providers are invited to attend.  To reserve a seat for this event send an email to info@cftre.com or call 604-693-0090 toll free 1 866-387-2862.

Manteo Resort has generously donated their venue to hold this event.

Red Cross Fire Response (November 3 - 7:51 am)
The Red Cross has been working in cooperation with government agencies and non-governmental organizations to ensure basic, unmet needs are taken care of for families and individuals affected by fires in the BC Southern Interior this past summer. To date, 520 households in Kelowna and Barriere/Mclure areas have come to the Red Cross for assistance. $400,000 in-kind gifts have been donated for fire relief and recovery efforts. $2.9 million in cash has been donated to the Red Cross BC Forest Fire Response Fund. The agency has spent $1.2 million so far, $850,000 in vouchers for clothing, fuel, occupational and school supplies, medical equipment, prescriptions, appliances and furniture. Over 600 Red Cross volunteers have responded to this disaster since it began.

BC Sends 200 Fire Fighters to California (November 1 - 8:09 am)
The out-going governor of California said Friday he was grateful for the fire help Alberta is sending to California -- the only problem is the help is coming from BC. Gray Davis told a news conference that he was grateful for the help the Premier of Alberta is sending and tried to thank Gordon Campbell but also forgot his name. BC is sending 200 firefighters and specialists, 65 fire pumps, and up to 10 air tankers and two so-called bird-dog airplanes to California where more than 2,600 homes have been destroyed by wildfires. The fires have also killed 20 people including one fire fighter. The good news is the weather is finally beginning to cooperate with light showers and cooler temperatures.