L.A. wildfires a 'haunting' reminder of B.C. blaze: West Kelowna fire chief

3 hours ago 11

Jason Brolund says the shocking images from the Los Angeles area are so familiar and vivid that some of his firefighters won't look at them

Author of the article:

The Canadian Press

Chuck Chiang

Published Jan 11, 2025 • 3 minute read

The fire chief of a B.C. community devastated by a fast-moving wildfire in 2023 says it’s “haunting” to see similar circumstances playing out in Southern California.

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Jason Brolund, the fire chief in West Kelowna, B.C., says the images from the Los Angeles area — where flames have torn through thousands of homes over the past week — are so familiar and vivid that some of his firefighters won’t look at them.

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West Kelowna bore the brunt of the McDougall Creek fire in August 2023, when it descended on neighbourhoods surrounding Okanagan Lake and destroyed or damaged almost 200 properties.

In Southern California, flames fanned by high winds have devastated communities including Pacific Palisades and Pasadena, spreading in a manner similar to what West Kelowna encountered in 2023.

Brolund says the fires are an important reminder that communities must be proactive about the risks of large wildfires near urban areas as climate change triggers more blazes.

He says West Kelowna firefighters are also keeping a close eye on the strategies and technologies deployed in the L.A. fight, such as extensive nighttime aerial firefighting capabilities that would benefit B.C.’s own battle against future wildfires.

“We watch California closely,” Brolund says. “We have for many years. They are considered a bellwether — what they are experiencing now, potentially five to 10 years (from) now, could be something that we see in our region.

“Their strategies, tactics and technology, things that they’re using on the ground today to fight those fires, are things that we hope to see here.”

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A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California on Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by AFP Contributor#AFP /AFP via Getty Images
An apartment building burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters prepare to fight flames from inside Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School auditorium as the school burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
A man walks past a fire-ravaged business after the Eaton Fire swept through Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif.Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighbourhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Damian Dovarganes /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck to battle the Palisades Fire while it burns homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.Photo by Apu Gomes /Getty Images
Claudio and Kathleen Boltiansky embrace in their fire-ravaged neighbourhood after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Etienne Laurent /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Thayer /Getty Images
A dog barks as the Eaton Fire destroys a neigbhourhood Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lebron Jones (centre) wipes his eyes while viewing his burned home during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters work the scene as an apartment building burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
Visitors to the Santa Monica pier look out at smoke from a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades blows over the beach in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Richard Vogel /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on Jan. 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Thayer /Getty Images
A motorcyclist stops to look at a burning home during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
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Fire-ravaged businesses are seen after the Palisades Fire swept though in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Eugene Garcia /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
This satellite image taken and released by Maxar Technologies on January 8, 2025 shows burned structures and active fire during the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway near Tuna Canyon Park in Malibu, California. Photo by Satellite image /©2025 Maxar Technologies
This colour infrared satellite image taken and released by Maxar Technologies on Jan. 8, 2025 shows homes and buildings burning on East Altadena Drive during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. Photo by Satellite image /©2025 Maxar Technologies
Firefighters battle flames from the Palisades Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Thayer /Getty Images
The Palisades Fire burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Etienne Laurent /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A man looks at his property destroyed by the flames of the Eaton Fire, before driving off, in Altadena, California, on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by ROBYN BECK /AFP via Getty Images
A burned car sits next to the remains of a home destroyed during the Palisades Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in Malibu, California.Photo by Eric Thayer /Getty Images
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns structures in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Eugene Garcia /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
California Governor Gavin Newsom (centre) surveys damage in Pacific Palisades with CalFire's Nick Schuler (left) and Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., during the Palisades Fire Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, Calif.Photo by Jeff Gritchen /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hastings Ranch resident Patricia Vahdat (right) and a neighbour speak in front of another one of her neighbour's home, which was completely destroyed by the Eaton fire in the Hastings Ranch community of Pasadena early Wednesday morning Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Will Lester /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A home burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by ROBYN BECK /AFP via Getty Images
Police officers remove an eldery resident from her home during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by ROBYN BECK /AFP via Getty Images
Cars destroyed by the Eaton Fire sit in the parking area of a burned auto shop on Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
A firefighter douses flames as a liquor store burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
Evacuees from the Palisades fire are seen at an evacuation and shelter center at Westwood Recreation Center in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER /AFP via Getty Images
Palm trees burned during the Palisades Fire are pictured on Jan. 8, 2025, in Malibu, California. Fueled by intense Santa APhoto by Eric Thayer /Getty Images
An ATM is damaged at a Bank of America branch after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Etienne Laurent /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A for sale sign remains as homes smolder during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images
A cupid statue stands in the rubble of a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
Firefighters protect a structure as the Eaton Fire advances Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A man walks in front of the burning Altadena Community Church, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif.Photo by Chris Pizzello /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thick heavy smoke from wildfires passes over the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Richard Vogel /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A wildfire-ravaged property is shown after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.Photo by Damian Dovarganes /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.Photo by Etienne Laurent /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A firefighter jumps over a fence while fighting the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns multiple structures in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Surfers Shaun Rosenberg (right) and Teal Greene take to the waves under a blackened sky from a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades, during the sunset in Santa Monica, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.Photo by Richard Vogel /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A vehicle burns as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A person walks amid the destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Photo by Jae C. Hong /AP
Homes bordering the Pacific Ocean are burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Photo by Jae C. Hong /AP
A VW van sits among burned out homes, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. Photo by Mark J. Terrill /AP
Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Photo by Ethan Swope /AP
The devastation from the Palisades Fire is seen from the air in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Photo by Mark J. Terrill /AP
Cesar Plaza becomes emotional while looking at his home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Photo by Nic Coury /AP
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Brolund says his department has been asking for nighttime aerial firefighting capabilities since the 2023 fires, and the province has “taken the first steps” toward providing that capability.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says two contracted helicopters were equipped to fly with night-vision technology in 2024 and were integrated into operations in July.

The night-vision technology was mainly used for reconnaissance, detection and mapping, although nighttime waterbombing was also performed “on a few select wildfires.”

Brolund says the images from California cause memories of West Kelowna’s own ordeal to resurface, including the thoughts that raced through his head as the flames roared into residential neighbourhoods in August 2023.

“It’s incredibly disturbing to watch,” Brolund says of the images from L.A. “Seeing it again takes you right back to that night. Now, though, we’re able to think about a lot of the things that we didn’t have time to think about when we were in the heat of the battle.

“You don’t think about how close you came to things until after it’s happened, and that — in a lot of cases — makes it even more difficult.”

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On Friday, B.C. Premier David Eby said California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had asked the province “for a senior management team from B.C. Wildfire Service,” and that team would be leaving for the U.S. “imminently.”

Eby also said B.C. was “working to send groundcrews as part of a national response.”

“California has been there for us, we will be there for them,” Eby said in a statement posted on social media platform X. “That’s what good neighbours do.”

Brolund says he can’t confirm if West Kelowna firefighters have been asked to join the firefight in Los Angeles, but his team is “in the early stages of being prepared for that.”

He says 50 fire engines from 30 different fire departments came to the aid of West Kelowna in 2023, and his department wants to “do our best to support our neighbours.”

Brolund urged Canadians to be prepared for emergencies.

“As horrible as it is, this fire has been a great illustration of the importance of having an emergency plan as a family, knowing what would you do if you had to leave your home and evacuate quickly,” he says. “What would you bring with you? How would you reunite with your family? Having that plan done in advance can make a world of difference.

“Even though across Canada we’re experiencing winter right now and wildfire is not necessarily front of mind, this event has brought it front of mind.”

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