It’s hard to prepare for the unimaginable.

But since British Columbia had its first ‘interface’ fire in Penticton in 1994 — when the Garnet fire burned more than 5,500 hectares and destroyed 18 homes — BC governments have tried to do just that.

It’s why our BC NDP government invested in helping the BC Wildfire Service operate year-round; not just during the summertime. We’ve made a $60M investment in helping BC municipalities and First Nations be more fire smart and resilient. We’ve worked with other fire-threatened Canadian provinces — and internationally — to share knowledge and critical resources during a crisis, like the devastating fires in Los Angeles this January. And this year we welcomed more than 2,200 applicants looking to work as a BC wildland firefighter for the season.

All of this work helps our people and communities be more resilient and ready when and if a fire strikes.

What can you do to prepare on your own? More than you might think.

Be Fire Smart:Pay attention to the wildfire risk in your region and obey campfire bans and other restrictions. Most of all: don’t discard cigarette butts outside as they can smoulder for hours and spark fires.

Have a plan if you’re evacuated:PreparedBC has lots of great resources to get you started. Don’t forget plans for pets, devices, and important documents!

If you see something, say something:Spot a fire or smoke? Make a report by calling toll-free at 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 from a cell phone as soon as possible.

Know before you go:Travelling this summer? Remember to check DriveBC for current road conditions and download the Alertable app to your mobile phone so you can receive local emergency information.

On the day we published this, 525 fires have already burned this year in our beautiful province, with 72 currently burning. Five started in the last 24 hours.

BC wildfire teams and firefighters will do everything they can to keep homes and communities safe this summer. Whatever we all can do to make their work easier, let’s commit to doing it, together.