Red tape slowing wildfire recovery in B.C.'s Gun Lake: residents

Charles Evans's cabin at Gun Lake was once an old mining office, according to what the Penticton man was told. 

It dated back to the 1950s, was dragged across the frozen lake during winter decades ago, and plopped onto the property he purchased in 2019 in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region.

It and over 50 other properties were partially or completely burned by the Downton Lake wildfire in the summer of 2023.

"We were like, well, OK, that's how it goes," Evans said of his family's mood after learning their cabin had been completely destroyed by the flames. "We have insurance… we'll figure it out. You know? It can't be that hard."

As Evans found out, however, it has been "that hard," as he continues to face issues with rebuilding his beloved summer home.

Those familiar with the aftermath of the Downton Lake wildfire say others have faced frustration as well, especially when rebuilding homes that are well out-of-date in terms of building codes.

One homebuilder says it's becoming a familiar facet of B.C.'s recent destructive wildfire seasons.

Evans blames confusing rules from the province and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District for making the process harder than it had to be.

For instance, he claims, officials have been unclear about how close to the lakefront his new cabin could be.

He said he waited eight months before being given permission to clear debris. He said he was told he'd need to hire an environmental consultant, paid $3,500 for that consultant, then was told the consultant wasn't necessary after all.

"I don't like hearing myself saying, well, the rules should be special for us, but we're not trying to build a condo complex," Evans said.

Evans explained his insurance is only covering a portion of the project. He estimates cleaning up and building an up-to-code cabin will cost about $450,000 to $550,000 out of pocket. 

It might impact retirement plans for him and his wife, he said, but believes the alternative is having a burned-out plot of land with little future resale value.

The Downton Lake fire sparked in July 2023 and burned through steep, wooded terrain at the western end of Gun Lake, northwest of Whistler, before flaring up and engulfing cabins. People in the area were ordered to evacuate. The intense blaze even sparked a fire tornado.