Over one million hectares of forest are burning across BC, setting a new record level of forests across the province. The majority of out of control fires are in the central and interior regions of the province, yet only last month Mission City had a forest fire of 215 hectares that lasted twenty days before it was eventually held. 

Mayor of Mission City Paul Horn is looking at ways the city can enhance its preparedness for if, or when, a forest fire could start in the area, highlighting two areas of concern for Mission: the Municipal Tree Farm, and the city’s groundwater supply.

“Our tree farm is literally about 50 per cent of the land mass of our city,” says Horn. “Which is a significant economic contributor and natural contributor and even recreational source of contribution.”

Mission’s Municipal Tree Farm got its Tree Farm License in 1958. The approximately 10,900 hectares of forest is the province’s only municipally-owned tree farm, signifying the city's intricate relationship with forestry.

The second area of concern to Horn is the geographical distribution of groundwater around the city and the interconnectedness between forest fires and the city's water supplies. Horn pointed out that forest fires pose a risk to the availability of water resources to help combat a fire if it starts.

“We do have a four-stage water shortage response plan,” Horn explains. “These stages are tied to the levels in our supply system that includes our supply Lakes Dixon and Canal but also the groundwater wells that we have as a part of our system.”

Horn emphasized Mission's collaborative efforts with neighbouring municipalities like Abbotsford and Maple Ridge, highlighting the city's commitment to ensuring the readiness of its Fire Department in times of need.

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