BC Wildfire Service commander shares emotional experience, ‘toughest year yet’

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Describing this as the most challenging summer of his career, an incident commander with the BC Wildfire Service is calling for unity.

Kyle Young has been firefighting for 16 years, and speaking to News 1130, he says this is the toughest one yet.

“My name is Kyle Young and I am an Incident Commander with the #BCWildfire Service. I am writing this post rather than sharing a video message because, frankly, it would be too emotional for me."

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 14, 2021

He’s spent just six days with his young family since June 30 — and is asking for understanding from those who have criticized crews. He sent out an emotional thread on Twitter during the week asking for just that.

“It’s difficult. I do it because I love it, but I’ve got a family at home that is ultimately paying a price for what I’m doing, and two young kids that don’t get the chance to really enjoy their summer like everybody else.”

Young insists firefighters are doing everything they can, and says it’s a physically and emotionally difficult time for crews across the province. He points out many other firefighters haven’t seen much of their families this summer given the demands.

"I understand there are other opinions out there that might not agree, but please know, from someone who has only been able to spend six days with his family since June 30th, I can attest to the dedication from every single person who is employed on these fires."

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 14, 2021

“It can be difficult, and we manage. It’s not going to be the first time or the last time. So, we do the best we can to get through and I just have to make sure that when I do get those days off, that I make them count.”

More than 6,200 properties have been evacuated because of the threat of a fire, while residents in about 27,000 properties have been placed on evacuation alert to be ready to leave. On Thursday, the entire community of Logan Lake — with a population of more about 2,000 — was ordered to leave.

Young understands that people are angry and emotional, but he says it’s difficult to read some of those comments on social media after a grueling day, when you’ve given absolutely everything with the goal of protecting communities and the people who live there.

“It’s just nice to have a little bit of a pick me up, as you start to wind down and not necessarily have to think about the job 24-7.”

In a thread that went viral on Friday, Young used the BC Wildfire Service Twitter account to share his thoughts, saying that recording a video message would be “too emotional for me.”

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“2021 is different from previous years. We aren’t getting the resources we usually would from other jurisdictions due to the immense fire danger across Canada and the United States,” he says on Twitter.

He writes that at the end of the day, he is thinking of others and if they’re okay.

"At the end of each grueling day, I wonder if everyone is okay. Not only on the incident I’m managing, but those working on other incidents, along with those deeply affected by the devastating wildfires. I wonder if I could have done something different, something better."

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 14, 2021

“Not only on the incident I’m managing, but those working on other incidents, along with those deeply affected by the devastating wildfires. I wonder if I could have done something different, something better.

“This season will pass and then everyone can ask questions, we will make adjustments, and we will reflect on what we learned this season. Right now, it’s time for us, as a province, to come together and support each other.”

B.C. remains in a state of emergency, originally declared on July 20. First Nations leaders, regional officials in the hard-hit Thompson-Nicola district, and the official opposition were among those who questioned why that move was not made sooner.

– With files from Lisa Steacy