Wildfire Preparedness — Protecting Peachland Before the Next Emergency

Wildfire preparedness is something we simply cannot afford to treat as a once-a-year conversation.

Living in Peachland means living with the reality of wildfire. We have seen firsthand throughout the Okanagan how quickly conditions can change and how fires can affect homes, transportation, utilities and entire communities.

For me, preparedness starts before there is smoke in the air.

That means continuing to reduce wildfire risk around our community, maintaining emergency access and evacuation planning, supporting FireSmart initiatives, protecting critical infrastructure, and working with our regional, provincial and First Nations partners.

It also means looking beyond Peachland's municipal boundaries. Much of the land surrounding our community is outside the District's direct control, yet what happens there can have a very real impact on Peachland.

There is no single project that eliminates wildfire risk. It requires ongoing planning, prevention, education and investment.

My priority is to make sure Peachland continues doing the work now that can make a difference when an emergency occurs.

Preparedness isn't about creating fear. It's about being ready.