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BC Wildfire Service Crews Rescue Man Who Had Initially Refused to Evacuate
Firefighters got the man to safety after his property was surrounded by flames, and officials said 583 properties remain under evacuation orders.
On Tuesday evening, B.C. Wildfire Service crews rescued a man who refused to leave his property near the Pear Lake wildfire after flames surrounded his home, despite earlier warnings that staying was an "incredibly dangerous situation."
BCWS incident commander Bryce Moreira shared the incident during a Thursday meeting to emphasize why evacuation orders matter, noting that staying behind diverts resources from fire response and endangers both residents and first responders.
The Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. stated that "every unnecessary rescue diverts valuable emergency resources away from patients and communities who may urgently need them," while placing first responders in further danger.
Clinton CAO Brian Doddridge reported on Wednesday that the village's watershed suffered severe damage, requiring public health assessments before residents can return home, which currently lacks power and remains under evacuation orders.
The 732-square-kilometre Pear Lake fire continues to burn near Clinton, with officials managing nearly 130 wildfires across British Columbia, about 40 per cent of which remain out of control as of Thursday morning.