An external company is reviewing the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 handling of the 2023 wildfires and has been doing so since November.
Environment and Climate Change minister Jay MacDonald revealed the independent review of the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 emergency preparedness during a sitting of the Legislative Assembly Feb. 7.
SA国际影视传媒淭his was the first time that homes were lost to wildfire within NWT communities and over 70 percent of residents were called on to evacuate over the course of the season, in some cases more than once,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淕iven the scope and severity of the 2023 season, we have engaged an external company to conduct an independent review of last summerSA国际影视传媒檚 fires.
SA国际影视传媒淎 team of wildfire and program assessment experts will review several aspects of the 2023 season including wildfire management decisions and operations in the field, as well as Environment and Climate ChangeSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfire program structure, budget and administrative systems. The team will also outline lessons learned that can enhance our approach to wildfire management moving forward.SA国际影视传媒�
Saying the review will take a SA国际影视传媒渄eep diveSA国际影视传媒� into the NWT wildfire season, MacDonald added the review had been underway since November and the department was responding to recommendations in real time to be prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. The full review is expected to be completed in March and MacDonald said the it would be publicly released.
He added with current conditions indicating the drought that helped fuel the wildfires will continue into 2024, the department was doing its best to source additional fire crews and aircraft and resources would be deployed earlier than normal. Using $20 million in Disaster Relief Funding from Ottawa, MacDonald said ECE would be working with Municipal and Community Affairs to make sure community emergency plans are up to modern requirements.
Minister of MACA Vince McKay added the GNWT would be holding public forums in communities impacted by the wild fires for residents to provide feedback to the officials on what worked and didnSA国际影视传媒檛 work during the 2023 wildfire season and evacuations. In addition to the external review MacDonald announced, McKay said the GNWT would also conduct a SA国际影视传媒渃omprehensive and independent after-action review.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭his will be the largest after-action review ever undertaken by this government, and I want residents to know that this is a priority for this government,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e already know that it will highlight gaps in last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 emergency response, but it will also inform how we collectively prepare for, manage, and recover from emergencies in the future.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Government of the Northwest Territories is deeply committed to learning from last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 devastating wildfire season, and I believe this extensive review, which all residents will be invited to participate in, will help guide emergency preparation and management efforts going forward.
SA国际影视传媒淚 want to stress, however, that our government is not waiting for recommendations from this review to make improvements now. All departments have been working to implement lessons learned from the 2023 wildfire season, including reviewing, and updating the NWT Emergency Plan, updating standard operating procedures, and coordinating training for GNWT staff. The comprehensive review of our Emergency Plan will be complete in advance of the 2024 disaster season.SA国际影视传媒�
Adding MACA was expecting this summer to be SA国际影视传媒渉igh riskSA国际影视传媒�, McKay said the GNWT would be stepping up itSA国际影视传媒檚 emergency preparedness awareness campaigns and advised all households and businesses to have contingency plans in place for potential emergencies.
He added Northerners should be prepared for floods, wildfires and other disasters as a potentially annual occurrence.
SA国际影视传媒淯nfortunately, due to climate change, we can likely expect more frequent and severe wildfires and floods in the future,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hile we cannot predict what this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfire and breakup season will look like, we can take steps to prepare ourselves. I know it can be difficult to hear that disasters will happen again. But it is critical that all of us, as individuals, businesses, communities, and this government, take action to prepare for and respond to disasters should they occur.SA国际影视传媒�
MacDonald did not say what company had been contacted to conduct the independent review. NNSL has reached out to the GNWT and will update this story when that information is made available.
During his memberSA国际影视传媒檚 statement, MacDonald also paid tribute to fallen firefighter Adam Yeadon of Fort Liard, who died fighting wildfires in 2023.
SA国际影视传媒淭he most significant loss of the 2023 wildfire season was of one of our own, firefighter Adam Yeadon,SA国际影视传媒� said MacDonald. SA国际影视传媒淗e passed away working to protect his home community of Fort Liard, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
SA国际影视传媒淚 am proud of the extraordinary work done by our wildfire management team, fire crews, wildfire experts and other first responders in the face of extraordinary pressure and unpredictable conditions. SA国际影视传媒�
