Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Northwest Territories will always remember the forest fire season of 2014. Drought conditions and hot, windy summer days sparked forest fires that burned over three million hectares of boreal forest, melted asphalt and road signs along highways, forced people to evacuate homes, and filled communities with dense smoke. When rain fell, it was black, and many people spent hours cleaning ash off their vehicles and other property. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the people of the Deh Cho, where there are usually the most fires, aren't taking any chances. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is in planning and preparation mode for the coming fire season. Conditions are difficult to predict right now, but it will probably take a significant amount of snow and rain this winter and summer to re-set Drought Codes to average numbers. An average summer with regular rainfall will reduce the number of fires, but we know it can't put them all out. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently planning its community FireSmart activities. FireSmart is a public education program that teaches communities and homeowners how to take a proactive approach to forest fire management. FireSmart communities know how to mitigate forest fire risk, reduce fire severity, and prepare homeowners and communities for forest fire occurrences.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is updating all Community Wildfire Protection Plans in the Deh Cho over the next few years. Forest fire protection requires the participation of community members, other government departments, Aboriginal governments, and other stakeholders. Wider participation should create a more active interest in FireSmart programming and greater participation in forest fire awareness and prevention. FireSmarting your home is easy. If you start with the basics like keeping a close eye on burn barrels and fire pits, clearing vegetation away from your roof and fuel supplies, keeping a water supply handy, and removing long grass, shrubs, and dead logs from your yard. Prevention activities make everyone's job easier when we do experience forest fires and reduce the risk of losing valuable property and worst of all, people's lives. Northerners should be prepared for the realities of continued drought and that includes working together as governments, communities, and individuals to get ready for forest fires now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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