The Chinook Emergency Response Society (CERS) has expressed concerns about the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act which came into effect on Nov. 8, 2023.
The CERS responds to emergencies and disasters in the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako (RDBN) Electoral Area-E [Francois/Ootsa Lake] and they addressed 27 wildfires in the region last year.
In a Jan. 3 statement, CERS said the legislation will put the community members at risk for protecting property, feeding livestock and fighting fires behind evacuation order lines during last year’s wildfire season and fears that their volunteers could now be jailed and/or fined.