New Cariboo Regional District chair to take over wildfire recovery in the region

The new chair of the Cariboo Regional District is wasting no time when it comes to taking on the challenge of helping the region rebuild from this summer's wildfires.

Margo Wagner, representative for Canim Lake-Forest Grove, was voted in as the new chair on Friday after former chair Al Richmond turned down the nomination.

"I saw it as a tremendous challenge," said Wagner.

"I have the greatest respect for Al Richmond and he has done a phenomenal job and I have to say he's been a really strong mentor for me."

Richmond served as the chair of the board for nine years and was one of the primary spokespeople for the region during the devastating wildfires that swept across the region. 

Accessing salvage timber

Wagner plans on meeting with the Minister of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Doug Donaldson.

She says she has heard from companies like Tolko and West Fraser Mills that they want to get back into the forests to start harvesting salvage timber because fire-damage wood needs to be logged within 18 months in order to still be usable.

In addition to the economic need for this, she said there was emotional need to start the recovery process.

"We can't really get on with the recovery mentally until we get rid of the burnt logs," Wagner said.

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb said he was surprised when Richmond turned down the nomination.

Cobb worked alongside Richmond during this summer's wildfires and watched him coordinate all of the communications for the region.

"As chair, he had a responsibility and it was a huge responsibility," he said. "You do get burnt out."

• Fires compound losses of harvestable timber in B.C.'s Interior
• B.C. forest industry faces big setbacks after summer of wildfires
• Wildfires in B.C. Cariboo combine to create province's largest blaze