2018-Aug-15
Update on Henvey Inlet Fire
The Henvey Inlet Fire is still burning in certain parts, but residents are now allowed back into the area outside of the fire perimeter. GBA will be questioning the adequacy of MNRF fire ratings to properly protect public safety, and keeping tabs on the ongoing MNRF investigation into the cause of the fire to ensure accountability. Extreme dry conditions persist and consequent risk of further fires, such as the recent one near Pointe au Baril. GBA will maintain communications with Pattern Development (the joint venture partner on the windfarm project in charge of the construction) and request continued vigilance on ongoing construction on the windfarm and the hydro line to ensure no more fires are started.
Henvey Inlet Fire Summary
- Questions raised on adequacy of MNRF fire rating protocol in protecting public safety as we experience increasing climate change linked dry conditions – MNRF fire ratings are set too low and implemented too late.
- Ongoing MNRF investigation – when will it be complete? Who was responsible for the fire and will they be held accountable? GBA will follow closely.
- GBA will maintain communications with Pattern Development (the joint venture partner on the windfarm project in charge of the construction) and request continued vigilance on ongoing construction on the windfarm and the hydro line to ensure no more fires are started.
- Fire now categorized as “contained” having grown to over 11,000 hectares – residents are now being allowed back in to the area around the fire zone.
- GBA will ask MNRF to increase the fire rating in the area to eliminate the potential for future high risk fire (construction etc.) activity while conditions remain very dry.
- If you would like to help the Key River community recover from this disaster, then you can do so at: https://ca.gofundme.com/key-river-forest-fire – This site also contains further details as well as pictures of the fire.
Update on Henvey Inlet Fire
All indications are that we are at increasing risk of wildfires in Canada, as global warming continues to cause regular extreme weather events, including severe droughts such as the one this summer throughout Georgian Bay. Many questions are arising from the aftermath of the Parry Sound 33 fire, which appears to have originated at the Henvey Inlet Windfarm project.
First some Background Information:
The fire rating that was set by MNRF at the windfarm construction site and surrounding area when the fire started was their middle setting, C, despite neighbouring municipalities – Killarney and Archipelago – having their highest rating in place. Parks and First Nation communities are not obliged to comply with municipal fire ratings, but are obliged to comply with MNRF (i.e. ON govt.) ratings. All construction and commercial activity is guided by MNRF protocols relating to the applicable rating for the area. The current rating for the area is back to D – it never went above C, despite the fire raging out of control, extremely dry conditions and many days of high winds.
The owner of the windfarm project is Henvey Inlet Wind LP, which is 50% owned by Pattern Development and 50% by Nigig Power Corporation (which is owned by Henvey Inlet First Nation). Pattern are managing the construction project.
There have been many concerns about ongoing work on the transmission line since the fire started. Over the course of the last 3 weeks, Pattern has advised that they have put in place more stringent oversight of contractors, more rigorous fire suppression measures and are complying with MNRF protocols at 2 levels above the applicable rating (i.e. currently B vs a D rating). They are avoiding all high risk (of fire) activities and are not currently working in Shawanaga or Magnetawan territory until ongoing discussions with chiefs and council have concluded with an agreement to recommence work. All of this is above and beyond what they are obliged to do.
There is an ongoing MNRF investigation into the cause of the fire and GBA is calling for an open and transparent investigation which will ensure that all evidence provided, whether anonymous or not, is utilized to reach a decision on the cause of the fire, which started at some location on the windfarm project site. Pattern have advised GBA that they are committed to an open and transparent process and will not tolerate their contractor, CER, or subcontractors suppressing evidence or preventing their employees coming forward with evidence.
MNRF vs Municipal Fire Ratings
It appears that there are regular disconnects between municipal and MNRF fire ratings and a complete lack of consistency going back many years. This raises a number of questions that GBA will be seeking answers to:
- Why are MNRF fire ratings consistently set at a lower level than municipalities?
- Why are MNRF fire ratings put in place so late – sometimes as much as a month behind municipalities?
- Why is there not complete coordination between MNRF and all other government and private agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to fire ratings and make use of all available sources of information and local knowledge, particularly given MNRF budgetary constraints?
- Why did MTO stop their road widening work and pull their equipment out early in the fire ban, but windfarm and hydro line construction work continued for many days after?
- Is public safety being properly protected by the current MNRF fire rating system which appears to be too low, too late, and has not kept pace with dryer conditions almost certainly caused by global warming?
The Fire and its Impact – What you can do to help
As of today Parry Sound 33 has been classified as “contained” which refers to the completion of a 100 foot wide clearing of trees and undergrowth around the entire 120 km perimeter of the fire. Local residents are full of praise for the MNRF staff, firefighters and others who have been fighting the fire on the ground and in the air and providing information. It is clear that everything possible has been done.
Residents are now allowed back in to most of the areas around the fire zone. We will now get more complete information on the number of camps/cottages and other structures that have been lost. Our thoughts are with the community as it comes to terms with losses and the devastating destruction of fauna and flora.
If you would like to help the Key River community recover from this disaster, then you can do so at: https://ca.gofundme.com/key-river-forest-fire This site also contains many pictures and further details of the fire.
Future Action
- Ensure that Pattern, the contractor CER and all sub-contractors maintain for the balance of the project construction the high level of vigilance, with extra fire suppression equipment and conservative operational practices, that are now in place,.
- Assist KRAA and the Key River community to recover from this tragedy.
- Try and get some meaningful changes to the fire rating protocols which will better protect public safety.
- Ensure that the MNRF investigation into the cause of the fire is conducted properly in all respects and that those responsible are held accountable – find out when it will be completed.
- Ask MNRF to increase the fire rating in the area to eliminate the potential for future high risk fire (construction etc.) activity while conditions remain very dry.
- Point out the impact the fire has had on such an environmentally important area – sensitive habitat with many species at risk. Furthermore the fire has destroyed an important heritage area, since the French River was the main conduit for the settlement of Canada east of Quebec. Therefore what can be done to restore the area? What resources will the government apply in this respect?