Member for Prince George, Will Mount, thank you, Mr Speaker. Imagine looking out your back door and seeing enormous plumes of smoke and hearing the Roar of flames, knowing that an out of control Wildfire is heading toward you, your family and your home. That is precisely what happened to many residents in the village of McBride and surrounding area. Last week. This wouldn't be the first time that these families had faced extreme weather events. In fact, they have had to deal with mudslides, flooding and wildfires.

As someone who has represented this region for years, it is devastating to think that, once again, there was a need for this community to step up, face down the danger and support one another, and that is exactly what they did volunteer: firefighters from McBride, Vail, Mount and outside our region work. Tirelessly from the moment the fire started. Volunteers made sandwiches, delivered food offered homes for Refuge transport of livestock. You name it.

People were there to support one another elected officials, Regional District of Fraser, Fort, George, the village of McBride and Vail Mount staff and, of course, BC Wildfire service and Emergency. Management staff worked long hours to manage the extremely dangerous and volatile situation, and then the rain came, and for that we are grateful as we speak, and in the days and weeks ahead, many more families and communities will face very similar circumstances. Each of these situations provides us with the opportunity to learn lessons and improve our response.

That is our responsibility and we must make it a priority. As for the people of McBride, I could not be more proud of their response and their resilience. It is said that difficult times bring out the best in people, and that was certainly the case in McBride and the surrounding region. They are an example of why I absolutely love where I live and where I serve.