White Rock Lake Fire

Wildfires in British Columbia have occurred regularly across history, and play an important role in the ecosystems of the region. Fires in BC are considered a key ecosystem 'disturbance' - a transformative event that changes the abundance and evenness of species in an ecosystem. Disturbances are often significant in regulating the distribution of biota in ecosystems, preventing dominant species from becoming too prevalent, and giving other species an opportunity to establish.

The below map shows the locations of fires in BC from 1917 to 2020, in combination with the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification (BEC) zones in BC. These zones represent distinct areas with differing temperature, moisture, soil and vegetation characteristics. Each of the BEC zones are named after the climax tree species in the region. Some BEC zones are more fire-prone than others, as a result of specific climatic and vegetative configurations.

Together, the bottom-up and top-down controls combine to produce a fire regime. Fire regimes describe the frequency and severity of burns in a region.

Prior to the colonisation of Canada, First Nations peoples engaged in cultural burning practices, which were used to manage the land and reduce the severity of wildfires. Since 1912, the BC provincial government has been responsible for directing fire management practices in the province. Early 20th century fire management was focussed on prevention and suppression. However since the 1970s, there has been an increasing awareness of the significance of fire to maintaining biodiversity, and thus management practices have evolved to reflect principles of emulation and coexistence. Current day fire management must also recognise the increasing impact of climate change, which is transforming the extent and severity of fires in the province.

In the months leading up to the White Rock Lake fire in 2021, North America experienced a severe heat wave. The severity of this heat wave was unprecedented. The highest temperature ever recorded in Kelowna, British Columbia was 44.6 °C which occurred on June 29, 2021. On the same a day record breaking 44.2 °C was measured in Vernon, British Columbia, the site of the fire.

The combination of extreme temperatures and fire-prone landscapes resulted in the fire risk becoming extreme in early July.

As of July 13 when the White Rock Lake fire was first discovered there was another other fire raging in the Thomas Creek area, which is just south of Penticton. Then the day after White Rock was found, another fire broke out in the Brenda Creek area. These 3 fires all being within 60 km of each other made for quite a full plate for BC Wildfire Service. The Fire Fighters had to effectively manage their resources in order to safely and adequately manage all 3 fires simultaneously. This creates multiple challenges such as prioritizing which fire to fight first, and what resources go to which fire. As of July 21 when all three fires are burning The BC fire services had allocated the following to the Thomas Creek Fire: 29 Firefighters, 19 Heavy Equipment (bulldozers, excavators, water trucks, feller bunchers, and skidders) 5 Helicopters assigned. For the Brenda Creek fire: 43 Firefighters, 15 Heavy Equipment, 4 Helicopters assigned and finally for the White Rock Lake fire: 39 Firefighters, 14 Heavy Equipment, 3 Helicopters assigned. Clearly we can see that the White Rock Lake fire is of least importance. This quickly changed. As of the end of July and the start of august efforts shifted from the other fires and the focus became on the white rock fire. They Currently had: 117 Firefighters (including 100 firefighters from Quebec), 12 Support Staff, 39 Heavy Equipment, 8 Danger tree assessors/fallers, 8 Helicopters assigned. The fire raged on for about another month as of Sept. 13 with the tireless efforts of firefighters and the area receiving rainfall BC Fire Service classified the fire as "Under Control".

The impacts of the white rock lake fire altered the surrounding ecosystems in many positive and negative ways. As fires occur, they usually alter an ecosystems biodiversity considerably. As wildfires cause lots of damage to human infrastructure, they generally help replenish the ecosystem's biodiversity. As the underbrush of the forest floor burns away, new and more nutrients are exposed and the now new rich soils are exposed to natural light promoting new, healthy growth. In the case of the white rock lake fire, through the imagery we took, we can see how there is incoming growth of new underbrush which over the years, will turn into a whole new vibrant, thriving forest.