From their acreage at Soda Creek, Diane and Dave Dunaway have seen two nearby train derailments, lightning fires, grass fires and serious wildfires across the river 香蕉视频直播� but not once did they evacuate their home.

The current wildfire situation, which has led to a state of emergency across the province, has been no different.

In a recent post on social media, Diane explained that the decision to stay is not one made on a whim, but backed by decades of sustainability and resilience that one must have in order to live on rural and remote properties. It香蕉视频直播檚 simply called 香蕉视频直播渃ountry living,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e lived here for 26 plus years without fire protection, garbage or recycling pick-up, fibre optics, pizza delivery, nor reliable cell service,香蕉视频直播� Diane said. 香蕉视频直播淟iving in a somewhat remote location necessitates independence, self-reliance, and a sense of accountability.香蕉视频直播�

Even three years ago, when a raging wildfire came right up to their fence line, and burned 122 hectares over months of time, the pair remained put on the property in the community they香蕉视频直播檝e lived in for 26 years.

Diane and Dave香蕉视频直播檚 decision to forego evacuating this and defend their property isn香蕉视频直播檛 an uncommon decision in the Cariboo.

In fact, most ranchers in the area have stayed behind to protect their livelihood 香蕉视频直播� a move that香蕉视频直播檚 brought controversy and criticism.

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The Dunaways and other neighbours 香蕉视频直播� a minimum 2.5 km drive away 香蕉视频直播� aren香蕉视频直播檛 standing by passively and watching the fires, though.

香蕉视频直播淣eighbours have pieced together a comprehensive collection of fire fighting equipment from hoses, backpack tanks, and shovels to backhoes and truck-mounted tanks with high-powered pumps,香蕉视频直播� Diane said.

香蕉视频直播淲e have an informal valley-wide spark watch in effect that includes calling our other neighbours across the river if we spot something they might not see coming from the hills above.香蕉视频直播�

Their preparedness includes plans for the worst-case scanrio and for the long haul 香蕉视频直播� but also have emergency bags by the door if things become unsafe.

香蕉视频直播淣earby Dunlevy Ranch has limitless gravity-fed irrigation water that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 need electricity to gather pressure,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淥ur fallback plan is to park in the middle of a hay field and surround ourselves with sprinklers. And of course there香蕉视频直播檚 the river.香蕉视频直播�

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With a self-sustaining farm still running in full force 香蕉视频直播� with a garden, honey bees and all 香蕉视频直播� as well as freezers with generators and fuel for back up, Diane has one simple request: respect their decision to stay.

香蕉视频直播淲e are not 香蕉视频直播榙efying香蕉视频直播� evacuation orders; we are using our collective years of experience along with cooperation to survive. There香蕉视频直播檚 nothing cavalier about our decision to stay home,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚n our estimation, at this time we feel safe and don香蕉视频直播檛 feel that we香蕉视频直播檙e endangering anyone.香蕉视频直播�

According to the BC Cattlemen香蕉视频直播檚 Association, government agencies at working with the ranchers who remain on their properties.

The RCMP have not made any arrests of those who remained in evacuation zones. Legally, there香蕉视频直播檚 nothing stopping those older than 18 from staying.