Canadá

Forced out by B.C. wildfires, evacuees frustrated by rules preventing return to rescue pets and valuables

Some people forced out of their homes by wildfires in northern B.C. are frustrated they aren’t being allowed to rescue pets and personal belongings or go in to help family members who have chosen to stay behind.

More than 3, 000 people are affected by evacuation orders across the province. Among them are hundreds of residents of the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, which is facing some of the largest wildfires this year.

The Nadina, Verdun and Island Lake wildfires in particular have forced the evacuation of an area known as Southside, which is accessible by ferry across Francois Lake, about 20 kilometres away from the community of Burns Lake.

“I’m stuck over here with no clothes … I have a place with huskies, cats and stuff stuck in my house,” he said.

People are only allowed to take the ferry to Southside if they have received special permission from the regional district, something Shirley Wilson has been trying to get since her home was placed under evacuation order last week.

In addition to equipment for her security job at remote work sites, she wants to collect photographs of her recently deceased son.

“I don’t want to lose his photographs, because that’s all I have of him,” she said. “The photos and the memories of him.”

Regional district board chair Bill Williams said his staff is receiving dozens of requests to enter evacuation zones, making it difficult to keep up.

He said it would be helpful if the province were to offer extra resources to help manage requests, as was recommended by an independent report released earlier this year.

That report, which examined the province’s handling of floods and wildfires in 2017, noted that preventing people from entering their communities added to confusion and stress and, in some cases, separated families.

It also was the source of political flare-ups when members of the Tl’etinqox First Nation community west of Williams Lake announced they wouldn’t follow evacuation orders, leading to a clash with RCMP.

It prompted officials to warn that defying evacuation orders poses a risk not just to those staying behind, but to officials who have to work around them while while dealing with wildfires.

Redes Sociais - Comentários

Artigos relacionados

Back to top button

 

O Facebook/Instagram bloqueou os orgão de comunicação social no Canadá.

Quer receber a edição semanal e as newsletters editoriais no seu e-mail?

 

Mais próximo. Mais dinâmico. Mais atual.
www.mileniostadium.com
O mesmo de sempre, mas melhor!

 

SUBSCREVER