Lots of people have approached me over the past few weeks and asked that I convey thanks to all those involved with firefighting efforts.
The list of individuals deserving our gratitude is so long that there is not enough space in this column to name everyone. But I can start by mentioning the great job being done by the people at the Cariboo Fire Centre. They have an amazing team and do great work at keeping us safe and well informed. All this in spite of the fact that our firefighting resources are spread thin throughout the province because virtually every region in B.C. is experiencing wildfire activity.
The Emergency Operations Centre run by the Cariboo Regional District is also doing a fantastic job of keeping the public up-to-date, answering questions from individuals and holding public information sessions for local residents. They are a tremendous resource on everything from emergency notification to wildfire prevention and preparedness.
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Emergency Support Services is also there to provide short-term assistance to people forced to evacuate. Their volunteers provide vital support at reception centres, reconnect families that have been separated and deliver much needed emotional support in times of severe distress.
There are many more unsung heroes such as local contractors and loggers who have voluntarily shut down their operations so that firefighters can concentrate on fighting the fires.
First responders such as police, ambulance and our search and rescue volunteers also deserve tremendous credit for quietly going about important work that all of us rely on.
Last but certainly not least are the people of the Cariboo. You deserve a great deal of credit for taking the lessons learned from last year and being better prepared. It strengthens us all as a community.
