Dear editor,
Re: May 17, 2018, letter to the editor from Marie-France Miron
Public concerns regarding a possible forest fire in Jasper and support for the Municipality doing what they can to mitigate fire impacts are an important part of a community coming together with supportive friends helping each other.
Tangible fuel reduction actions from the National Park is critical to any possible mitigation success as are unpredictable weather conditions combined with history repeating itself, many times over the last 3,500 to 10,000 years.
In BC the 2017 fire season brought significant personal and emotional grief to many people directly and indirectly affected. One of the resources the BC Provincial government reached out to was the Canadian Mental Health Association.
We offer the web link below for your consideration regarding the mental stress residents of Jasper are experiencing with the uncertainty of the fire and more likely the uncertainty of any mitigating efforts being successful.
We have not contacted the Canadian Mental Health Association regarding possible natural disaster coping options specific to Jasper and offer the web link for your consideration. The site was developed based on a demonstrated need for BC residents, families and friends during our 2017 challenges during and after the fires hit. In 2018, we are already experiencing an early and stressful fire start, some fires burning adjacent to or within the 2017 fire areas.
Click here to see the document.
Emile Begin, RPF
Prince George
