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In the midst of an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada, two former firefighters from British Columbia took a unique approach by documenting the ongoing crisis instead of battling the flames. Simon Shave and Clayton Mitchell have created a five-part docuseries titled Wildfire, which highlights the methods employed to combat the fires while also sharing the personal narratives of those who bravely engaged in the efforts.
According to Shave, who co-directed the series, their background in firefighting provided them with a significant advantage. “We know the communications, we know what happens on fires and we have all the safety courses, so through that we were allowed to get really on the front lines and get unprecedented footage,” he stated.
Their ambitious project came to life with the help of executive producer Kevin Eastwood from Optic Nerve Films. Eastwood noted the unexpected scale of the wildfire season they encountered. “We couldn’t have expected, when we embarked on this project, that it would be the worst season on record, both in terms of acreage burned and lives affected,” he remarked.
Among the devastating incidents was the McDougall Creek wildfire, which wreaked havoc in the Central Okanagan, destroying nearly 200 homes and consuming about 13,500 hectares of land. Eastwood expressed his admiration for the community’s response during such trying times. “I was blown away by how many people (from) the community were showing up and stepping up to make donations and help people out. I think we can all use more stories like that and see that people generally do want to help out each other,” he added.
The inspiring narratives captured in the docuseries are set to be showcased on the Knowledge Network starting April 29, offering viewers a poignant glimpse into both the struggles and the solidarity that emerge in times of crisis.
Source
globalnews.ca