Canfor is suing the province over what it alleges was a negligent and inadequate firefighting response to a 2010 wildfire near Vanderhoof.
A statement of claim filed June 15 in BC Supreme Court claims that the fire occurred on June 18, 2010, approximately 30 km southwest of Vanderhoof. The statement of claim alleges that the ministry “caused or contributed” to the spread of the fire by failing:
• to provide a timely fire response, control and/or suppression efforts;
• to use adequate care in its fire response, control and/or suppression efforts;
• to marshal and deploy sufficient resources, in terms of personnel and/or equipment, in a timely manner in order to fight the fire;
• to provide timely and/or adequate aerial water bombing to control and/or suppress the fire; and
• to provide the necessary personnel to control and/or suppress the fire.
Contractors will be watching this case closely, as several lost equipment and decked logs in that fire. Some were even charged stumpage on the wood that burned. If a court finds the ministry’s response was inadequate, that will open up a whole new discussion.
– Central Interior Logging Association
