Re: “We can make forest fires less damaging,” comment, Feb. 19.
The writer of the commentary takes issue with the amount of money being allocated by the province to clean up natural fuels around communities. As long as my neighbours continue to do little or no cleanup of their acreages, no amount of mitigation on the periphery of a community will make my home safer from wildfires.
The trees in our area are dying from drought related to climate change faster than I can harvest them on my own property, while other residents nearby take no action in the same vein. The cleanup required is overwhelming and, as a result, will be attempted by few homeowners — and no unenforceable or unenforced legislation will change that.
The real issue is climate change, and greater action is required by the entire world to reverse or at least hold change at current levels. Real climate-change action is required by government, not just an impractical plan in a vacuum decree to limit new-car sales to zero-emission vehicles only after 2040, or a requirement that homeowners clean up their own property, or a requirement that we perform open burning only under certain circumstances.
All levels of government create many rules, but seldom enforce them.
Mike Wilkinson
Duncan
