ØThe cost of fighting forest fires to the provincial government: $4 million to $7 million per day depending upon the situation; close to $400 million for the Summer of 2003 (province-wide) where interface fires (i.e. contact with human settlements) have been unusually common ( “Bill to fight forest fires in B.C. ‘may top $400m”). To August 23, there had been 2162 fires reported in BC and 170 000 hectares of forest burned (Boei and Ramsey). Note:  $55 million had originally been budgeted to fight forest fires in 2003 (Palmer).

ØConcern over price gouging i.e. rent hikes affecting dispersed persons looking for places to stay