BC Wildfire officials are reminding residents to leave if they are under an evacuation order and not to stay behind.
This message comes after the BC Wildfire Service says a man refused to evacuate his home near Chasm on Tuesday.
They say hours after he defied the order, the fire was surrounding his property.
He then called for help as he was unable to get out.
Crews responded and were able to get the man to safety, but officials are warning of the dangers of not obeying evacuation orders.
“When those crews needed to go and rescue that person, it took them away from their ability to fight the fire in that area and protect other values on that landscape: people’s structures and homes,” Bryce Moreira, an incident commander with the BC Wildfire Service, said.
B.C.’s Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar, echoed the message.
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“I want to assure residents we are doing everything we can to fight this fire, but when you stay back you are putting yourself and your family at risk; you’re putting the safety of our wildland firefighters at risk because if they know you’re there, their focus is on you and not the fire,” he said.
However, a man from Boston Bar said officials are “villainizing” those who defy evacuation orders, even though they have the expertise and willingness to pitch in to protect their communities.
Attila Banhegyi said the decision to stay is a more nuanced topic than the edict to just leave.
“Some people are equipped to stay behind in certain emergencies. And some are even willing to die to protect their own livelihoods. And I believe that’s a choice that they should be allowed to make,” he said in an interview with the Canadian Press on Thursday.
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A statement released this week from the Ambulance Paramedics of BC, the union representing around 6,000 ambulance paramedics and dispatchers, urged residents to leave when placed under an evacuation order.
“Choosing to remain behind places not only you and your family at risk, but may also require firefighters, paramedics, police, and search and rescue teams to conduct dangerous rescue operations that could otherwise have been avoided,” it said.
This comes as many wildfires continue to burn out of control in B.C.
The Pear Lake wildfire is currently measuring more than 73,000 hectares and the Ainslie Creek wildfire is more than 30,000 hectares.
-with files from The Canadian Press
I live in the lower mainland so I have no idea what people in the Clinton / 70 Mile area and others are going through, but if you are told to evacuate, I’m pretty sure there is a good reason. In my opinion, if you defy that order and stay to protect your property, as noble as that is, then unfortunately you are on your own. Your defiance to leave, and all of a sudden realizing you made a mistake, shouldn’t mean that people have to put their lives at risk to come and save you. Those people have family too, and if one of them dies trying to save you, it would be devastating for that family. Give your head a shake, and take direction when required.
Tonight’s news hour told of a fool in BC who defied an evacuation order only to cry for help when he discovered he indeed was not a “tough guy”.
Another in Boston Bar is boohooing about being able to take care of himself. OK tught guy or will you too be calling for help risking so many lives because of your bravado?
These to need to be reminded of Mister Harry J Truman. He too refused to leave his premises when Mount St. Helen’s (Washington State) exploded in March of 1980. He sure showed everyone. The area he was in ended up being buried under 150 of lava and ash. He is still bried under all that.
Should have let him burn.
How many people did he put at risk for his own stupidity.
He should be forced to make a public apology.
Send this person the bill
One of the great things about being an adult, is the ability to make our own choices. I have been through 2 evacuation orders in the last 7 years and fully understand the stress one deals with. But I also firmly believe that anyone who makes the decision to stay behind during an evacuation order, should also stand up and fully accept the repercussions of there decision should things unfold poorly. Emergency personnel should refuse to go to a persons aide if they have chosen not to leave when given the opportunity. We have a limited amount of emergency resources and people, we are not lacking in people who make poor decisions. People once upon a time were responsible for there own decisions, right or wrong, that is how we learn, evolve and survive as a species, or not.
People ski out of bounds,climb the grouse grind, hike in inclement weather, sail in stormy seas etc. They don’t care. Good thing theres always help obligated to their safety
Its like antivaxxers not believing in covid, not getting vaccinated, getting sick amd overwhelming the hospitals. Loosers.
The man made a choice which was the wrong choice, he then called for help his actions put others lives in danger because of his macho ego why did we help him, because the rest of the country would have condemed the province so basically to the hell with the first responders and those that risk their lives so the stupid will live
😂
I think we should get more harsh with this type of thing. In large parts of Australia they have signs and warnings that if you defy an order to evacuate and get in trouble, you’re on your own. I think if the Fire service has the ability to go help someone then it is up to them to try, but I also think we need to be far more harsh and actually have people explicitly agree that they are on their own. That level of needing to sign my name may make a lot of people think twice.
Dont have an issue with people who want to defy the order to try and protect their property, but can’t have it both ways either. If you defy the order then you’re 100% on your own – no help should be expected if things go bad. That’s the reason the order was issued in the first place.