One day after the mayor of Harrison Hot Springs ordered a state of local emergency (SOLE), the provincial government has ordered it cancelled.
On Wednesday (May 22) afternoon, Mayor Ed Wood released a brief statement announcing that the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness requested that SOLE related to “imminent” wildfire danger be cancelled.
“Any questions and concerns can be directed to the village office,” Wood stated.
The cancellation order states, in part, that “the threat of interface fire no longer requires prompt coordination of action or the special regulations of persons or property.”
Wood met with council for a special session on Tuesday morning to discuss the SOLE order. Council criticized him for allegedly entering into a $175,000 contract with wildfire detection system manufacturer Sensenet without the council’s knowledge or approval. Wood was further criticized as a number of councillors believed the village was not in immediate danger.
The council asked Wood to cancel the SOLE order during a meeting Tuesday night, but the meeting collapsed before a vote could be given.
The SOLE was expected to remain in place until at least June 4 with the possibility of extension.
A SOLE exists so municipal or regional authorities can expedite the regulatory process during times of emergency and disaster.
More to come.