1. Wildland Fire Act WALP Regional Meteorologists March 2003

2. Core Review • Protect Government Assets • Lives and specifically timber • Cost Sharing/Fees for Service • Industry • Utilities • Private Land • Other stakeholders WALP Regional Meteorologists

3. Legislative framework • Forest and Range Practices Act • Exemptions for firefighting activities • Protection of values implies fire management planning • Wildland Fire Act (WFA) - provisions from FPC: • Responsibilities for preventing and reporting of fires • Responsibilities for industrial users (action w/i 1 km) • Responsibilities for using open fire • Powers and authorities of government WALP Regional Meteorologists

4. Wildland Fire Act • Training requirements eliminated (WCB) • Streamlined requirements (in regulation) • Open fire provisions (simplified) • Tool and watchmen requirements (results based) • Preparedness plans (simplified) • Fire hazard assessment and abatement (simplified) • Enhancements • Dispute resolution mechanism • Regulation for reasonable fire suppression costs and damage • Operational flexibility for industry WALP Regional Meteorologists

5. Wildland Fire Act (cont’d) • WFA and regulations into effect January 2004 • Program mandate and responsibilities • Large scale fire application • Municipal lands • Rules of engagement and cost recovery • Harmonization with existing/proposed legislation • Forest and Range Practices Act, Waste Management Act, Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, Drinking Water Protection Act, Hydro Act, Park Act … WALP Regional Meteorologists

6. Wildland Fire Act (cont’d) • Cost recovery • Landowners and fire-starters responsible for fires • Ability to share financial risk through cost-sharing on firefighting costs WALP Regional Meteorologists

7. Implications for Air Quality • Work with the WMA • Ownership of regulation/responsibility • 3 Levels of Harmonization -legal -planning -MOU WALP Regional Meteorologists