Wildfire Recovery in Summerland: Don’t Feel Pressured Into Making Decisions About Your Trees
For many Summerland residents, the past several weeks have been extraordinarily difficult.
The Bald Range Wildfire forced evacuations, disrupted lives and left many property owners returning home to assess what happened to their homes, landscapes and trees. As evacuation orders have been progressively reduced, the community has begun the difficult transition from immediate emergency response toward recovery.
For homeowners in affected areas, that recovery can include determining whether trees exposed to fire or extreme heat are damaged, unstable or potentially hazardous.
Unfortunately, the aftermath of a disaster can also attract contractors from outside the community looking for work.
Millar Tree Care has become aware of door-to-door solicitation occurring in and around Summerland for wildfire-related tree work. We are concerned about residents — particularly seniors and people already dealing with an incredibly stressful situation — feeling pressured into authorizing expensive work without having an opportunity to properly consider whether it is necessary or whether the contractor is appropriately qualified.
Our message to Summerland homeowners is simple: unless there is an immediate safety hazard, don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision on the spot.
The Immediate Emergency Has Eased. You Have Time to Ask Questions.
For many residents, the immediate emergency has passed and attention is now turning toward recovery.
That doesn't mean every problem needs to be solved today.
After evacuating, worrying about your home and returning to a changed landscape, having someone arrive at your door and tell you that trees need to be removed immediately can create another source of anxiety.
Be cautious when someone uses fear or urgency to sell tree work.
If you're told that a tree is dangerous, ask why. Ask what qualifications the person has to make that assessment. Ask for the recommendation and price in writing. Verify who you're dealing with and where the company is actually based.
And don't be afraid to get a second opinion.
A reputable tree care professional should be able to explain why work is recommended without pressuring you into an immediate decision.
Fire-Damaged Trees Require the Right Knowledge
Wildfire can affect trees in ways that aren't always obvious from the ground.
Heat can damage roots and cambium, compromise trunks and weaken limbs. A tree may have obvious signs of severe fire damage, while another may appear relatively intact despite having experienced conditions that warrant closer assessment.
That's why wildfire tree assessment shouldn't simply be treated as ordinary residential tree removal.
British Columbia has a specific Wildlife/Dangerous Tree Assessor (WDTA) Wildland Fire Safety training module designed to provide technical knowledge and procedures for assessing tree hazards in wildfire environments. The Province describes the program as addressing dangerous-tree hazards associated with wildland fire operations and appropriate assessment and safety procedures.
Millar Tree Care has personnel trained through the WDTA program, providing specialized knowledge that complements our team's professional arboriculture experience.
The objective isn't simply to identify trees that can be removed.
It's to understand the hazard, assess the condition of the tree and determine an appropriate next step — including whether a tree can safely remain.
Millar Tree Care Is Already on the Ground in Summerland
Millar Tree Care has served Summerland and communities throughout the South Okanagan for nearly two decades.
We're not here because there was a wildfire.
We're here because this is our community.
Since the Bald Range Wildfire, our crews have been working directly in affected areas of Summerland, assessing damaged trees, addressing hazards and completing tree work as residents and properties move into recovery.
Millar Tree Care has also been provided permission to document and share video and photographs from this work.
On the Ground: Bald Range Wildfire Recovery
Millar Tree Care crews have been working directly in wildfire-affected areas of Summerland. The video and photographs below show some of the conditions our team has encountered and the tree assessment and removal work underway as the community moves into recovery.
Video: Millar Tree Care removing a fire-damaged tree in Summerland following the Bald Range Wildfire.
What These Conditions Show
The photographs also demonstrate why experience matters.
Post-wildfire tree work can involve compromised trees, uneven terrain, damaged root systems, overhead hazards and conditions that differ considerably from routine residential tree care.
Some damaged trees may present a genuine and immediate hazard. Others may warrant further assessment or monitoring. And some may be safely retained.
The answer shouldn't automatically be “take it down.”
A qualified assessment can help property owners understand what has happened to their trees and make an informed decision about what actually needs to be done.
Be Cautious With Door-to-Door Tree Services
There are many reputable tree care professionals in British Columbia, including companies that travel outside their home communities to perform legitimate work.
Being from outside Summerland does not, by itself, mean a contractor is unqualified.
But following a disaster, homeowners should be particularly cautious about unsolicited, high-pressure offers of service.
Before agreeing to wildfire-related tree work, consider asking:
What is the full name of the company, and where is it based?
What arboriculture and wildfire-related qualifications does the person assessing the tree hold?
Does the company have appropriate insurance and coverage?
What specifically makes the tree hazardous?
Is removal required immediately, or can the decision wait?
Are there alternatives to removal?
Can the recommendation and quotation be provided in writing?
Can you take some time to consider the recommendation or obtain another assessment?
If someone won't answer reasonable questions, creates unnecessary urgency or pressures you to authorize expensive work immediately, you can say no.
Our Rates Haven't Changed Because There Was a Wildfire
There is another point we want Summerland residents to know.
Millar Tree Care continues to charge our standard rates.
We have not increased our rates simply because homeowners are dealing with wildfire damage or because demand for this type of work has increased.
We don't believe someone's difficult circumstances should become an opportunity to charge them more.
Our crews, equipment and experience are being put to work in Summerland just as they have been throughout the South Okanagan for years: assess the situation, explain what we find, recommend appropriate work and charge fairly for the work that's required.
Local Experience Matters
For nearly two decades, Millar Tree Care has worked throughout Summerland and the South Okanagan.
We know the area. We work here year-round. And when the immediate wildfire response eventually ends and the news cameras move on, we'll still be here.
That's an important distinction when you're making decisions about mature trees and your property.
Wildfire recovery isn't necessarily completed in a single visit. Some trees may need to be monitored over time as their response to fire damage becomes clearer.
Working with an established local provider means you know who you're dealing with — and you know where to find us afterward.
Summerland Has Been Through Enough
The people affected by the Bald Range Wildfire have already dealt with evacuation, uncertainty, disruption and, in some cases, significant damage.
They shouldn't also have to worry about being pressured into unnecessary or overpriced work.
If you're concerned about trees on your property, get qualified advice. Ask questions. Verify credentials. Get another opinion if you're uncertain.
And unless there is a genuine immediate hazard, give yourself permission to take the time you need to make an informed decision.
Concerned About Trees on Your Property?
If you have fire-damaged trees or are uncertain about the condition or safety of trees on your Summerland property, Millar Tree Care can help. Our experienced team can assess the situation, explain what we're seeing and recommend appropriate next steps.
Request a Tree Assessment or call Millar Tree Care at (250) 809-5779