B.C. wildfire crews rescue resident who stayed behind evacuation order
B.C. wildfire evacuation orders protect lives as Pear Lake fire grows near Clinton Refusing to leave can risk crews and delay rescues—see how officials are responding
Wildfire officials in British Columbia say crews had to return to rescue a resident near Chasm, north of Clinton, after the person refused to leave an evacuation area tied to the Pear Lake wildfire.
According to incident commander Bryce Moreira, crews first warned the resident on Tuesday evening that staying was dangerous. They later came back when the property was surrounded by fire and the person could no longer get out. Officials said both the resident and firefighters escaped safely.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said the incident put responders at risk and took them away from protecting other properties. Paramedics in the province also warned that ignoring evacuation orders can strain emergency resources and endanger first responders.
Evacuation orders remain in place for about 1,600 properties in British Columbia, with another 3,000 under alert. The Pear Lake fire has prompted fresh evacuations, damaged key infrastructure around Clinton, and continued to grow amid hot, dry and windy conditions.