Former Liberal MP for Kelowna - Lake Country Stephen Fuhr lost everything at his West Kelowna property when the McDougall Creek wildfire swept through. After spending more than two hours sifting through the debris with a rake, the only item that survived the blaze was a miniature Delft Blue house received from KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines.
含羞草研究社淭he house survived the house fire, ironically,含羞草研究社� said the former operational fighter pilot.
Fuhr含羞草研究社檚 home was swallowed by the wildfire on Aug. 19. He has visited his property a couple of times since and described it as a pile of ash.
含羞草研究社淎ll my flying memorabilia, my memories, all the things I含羞草研究社檝e collected over the years. I had a model of every airplane I was ever a captain on, I had photos, I had little mementos from all the units I flew on when I was in the Air Force含羞草研究社� all that stuff is gone.含羞草研究社�
The former politician said people have stepped up tremendously, to offer him a place to sleep and other support. Even the Prime Minister called Fuhr days after he lost his home to check in and learn more about what was happening in the Okanagan.
Fuhr plans to rebuild the property he has lived at for 15 years. He was able to find a place near his devastated property, so he could be around during the process.
含羞草研究社淭he 2003 fire is a great example of a big event like this, it含羞草研究社檚 painful for many people but it含羞草研究社檚 something that can be overcome.含羞草研究社�
When it comes to support from the government, Fuhr said he believes everyone is doing the best they can with what they have.
含羞草研究社淏ut let含羞草研究社檚 be realistic. If you go to that BC Wildfire app含羞草研究社� that map is covered with fires. It is red and orange dots everywhere. I think moving forward here, we含羞草研究社檙e going to have to have a real serious conversation about more resources, more people, and perhaps a new concept of operations.含羞草研究社�
Fuhr noted he had shared to social media that same sentiment in the weeks before his home burned to the ground.
I am grateful for the system we have in place but there is little chance it will be able to keep up to the pace of BC/Canadian wildfires. We need more assets, people and a more robust concept of operations to increase our chance of success.
含羞草研究社� Stephen Fuhr CD (@FuhrMP)
含羞草研究社淭hese fires are absolutely devastating, and they impact everybody,含羞草研究社� Fuhr said bringing up insurance rates as an example.
Fuhr said it含羞草研究社檚 time to reinvent the wheel when it comes to wildfire season.
Black Press asked Fuhr if this experience is one that could push him back into politics, but he said it含羞草研究社檚 not likely. Helping fight the wildfires either from the air or with flight operations, however, could be in the future.
含羞草研究社淚f there was an opportunity to do that I think I would seriously consider it.含羞草研究社�
READ MORE: Planned ignitions to cause increased smoke at West Kelowna wildfire
brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on
