We were lucky. The usual summer winds blow up the Alberni Inlet from the south and west, especially in the afternoon. On August 11th they were blowing from the north, and for the next two days they blew from the North. That fluke of the weather saved Port Alberni.

We are still in a precarious position with respect to fire entering the city. There are many houses immediately adjacent to the tall 80 to 90-year-old forest on the South and East edges of the city. A large portion of the land adjacent to the homes is owned by the city, and beyond that land, there is another strip of Crown land before the Mosaic property is reached. I think there is a huge liability should a fire encroach on these homes. The City has a responsibility to be seen to take appropriate steps to reduce the chance of a wildfire. Unfortunately this may mean cutting some of the forest around the city limits.

This may not sit well with people in Port Alberni. But on the other hand there must be a certain amount of anxiety to those living on the south and east edges of the city. So I wonder what plans the city, and the Regional District has or is contemplating to do something to lower the chance of a wildfire encroaching on the city.