㽶Ƶֱ

Skip to content

㽶ƵֱIncreasingly divisive issue㽶Ƶֱ: Ma says B.C. evacuations orders must be followed

Emergency Management Minister says equipment being moved can put the 㽶Ƶֱwhole unified strategy at risk㽶Ƶֱ
33694197_web1_230823-BPD-BC-wildfires-respect-evacuations-Ma_1
Premier David Eby, left to right, looks on with B.C. Minister of Emergency Readiness Bowinn Ma, Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan and incident commander Brad Litke as Wildcat Helicopter pilot Folef Graafland goes over safety instructions before boarding to survey wildfire damage in the area at Wildcat Helicopters in West Kelowna, B.C., on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

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.

READ MORE:

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

Like us on and follow us on .

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Lauren Collins

About the Author: Lauren Collins

I'm a provincial reporter for Black Press Media's provincial team, after my journalism career took me around B.C. since I was 19 years old.
Read more



(or

㽶Ƶֱ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }