B.C.㽶Ƶֱs Emergency Managament Minister Bowinn Ma says that while she understands it㽶Ƶֱs a remarkably difficult time for British Columbians living in areas under evacuation order, not evacuating can lead to even more risk.
During the latest update on the B.C. wildfire situation Wednesday (Aug. 23), Ma said she knows some people want to stay and fight the fires around their homes, but it is also her duty to be clear about the risks to people and emergency crews.
㽶ƵֱWhen unauthorized people are in evacuation areas it escalates the danger involved for everyone. It also limits the kind of wildfire fighting tactics that the BC wildfire service can deploy.㽶Ƶֱ
She said it directs critical resources away from the wildfire fight itself in searching for moved equipment, redoing work that㽶Ƶֱs already been done to set up structural protection or 㽶Ƶֱjust trying to manage an unpredictable situation made even more unpredictable by well-meaning but uncoordinated firefighting efforts.㽶Ƶֱ
It has become an 㽶Ƶֱincreasingly divisive issue㽶Ƶֱ within the community and outside.
㽶ƵֱLet me be clear, our collective fight is with the wildfire. But in order to do this, our effort needs to be united, we need to work together, not against each other.㽶Ƶֱ
In recent days, there have been issues with people not following evacuation orders, as well as firefighting equipment being stolen in the North Shuswap.
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Ma said BC Wildfire Service is 㽶Ƶֱactively working to open up a dialogue with those behind the lines who are refusing to leave to try to create an understanding of the seriousness of the situation.㽶Ƶֱ Officials are reaching out to skilled, experienced people in the Shuswap to try and incorporate them into their work.
㽶ƵֱWe can㽶Ƶֱt have equipment that㽶Ƶֱs been staged for firefighters being moved and it㽶Ƶֱs not there when it㽶Ƶֱs needed. That puts the whole unified strategy at risk and it puts people and their homes at risk.㽶Ƶֱ
Last week, BC Wildfire Service operations director Cliff Chapman said there were a few instances were wildfire service staff and RCMP had to go back into evacuation zones to get people out.
㽶ƵֱThat puts people㽶Ƶֱs lives at risk,㽶Ƶֱ said Chapman, adding it also takes a significant toll on staff trying to get people out of the way of fires moving 㽶Ƶֱat rates we rarely see in British Columbia.㽶Ƶֱ
READ MORE: RCMP helping to evacuate British Columbians, secure areas
lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
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