There are wildfires burning too close to home.
It seems too normal nowadays that the annual expectation of an ominous grey haze of terrible wildfire smoke comes crashing into the Bow Valley like a wave hitting the shoreline.
Despite smoky days that beat down the health standards, a buffer has always seemingly been there between the Bow Valley and somewhere else that these terrible disasters are happening: it’s in British Columbia, or it’s in the north.
However, with the recent evacuations of the Town of Jasper and Jasper National Park, which borders Banff to the north, and the north Ranchlands area in the MD of Bighorn, this has hit too close to home.
As of this writing, an out-of-control wildfire is approximately 25 kilometres west of Water Valley, and wildfires threaten to consume the Town of Jasper to the south and northeast.
The Outlook wishes for a safe evacuation to those affected, and praises the first responders attacking the fires and trying to extinguish them.
When the Jasper evacuation order came just after 10 p.m. on Monday (July 22), thousands were forced to flee in the dark and with only one escape route out of town.
As the event was unfolding, I thought to myself: am I prepared to leave within an hour, within minutes, if forced to?
The sudden nature of this daunting event should act as a reminder to the Bow Valley – and any town that has wildfire risks – to stay evacuation prepared.
There is literature on evacuation and emergency plans for the towns of Banff and Canmore and the Municipal District of Bighorn are readily available for viewing on each municipality's websites. The Outlook recommends anyone living in, or visiting the Bow Valley to read through.
Other ways to stay informed are through news outlets, the radio, television and social media.
Even common things like filling a vehicle with enough gas and having another roof to stay under are small but crucial details that can make a quick departure safer and more comfortable. Keeping government documents such as ID and passports in a ready-to-go bag.
If you have a pet, where will they stay? Are you prepared financially to uproot and leave town on a whim?
It’s in those times that panicking will have the opposite effect of what the situation calls for.
There are some things out of our control – like natural disasters – but your focus should be on what you can control like having common sense and preparing for your worst case scenario.
Preparation is key for the worst case scenario.
If nothing else, the wildfires north in Jasper and east in the MD of Bighorn should be eye-opening.
It takes as little as 30 minutes, but it could change a nerve-wrecking situation into one where you’re in charge with what you can control.
