B.C. ambulance paramedics are urging people to obey evacuation orders as the province’s wildfire situation adds strain to their system.
Thousands of British Columbians have been ordered to leave their homes in recent weeks as out-of-control wildfires threaten villages and smaller communities like Clinton, Boston Bar, and 70 Mile House. In addition, residents of hundreds of properties have been placed on evacuation alert, like the entire village of Kimberley, whose residents have asked to prepare to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.
Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. said many of its members who live in communities under evacuation order remain committed to staffing ambulances but have asked others in these areas not to follow suit and remain at home.
“Evacuation orders are issued to protect lives,” reads the statement from APBC.
“Choosing to remain behind places not only you and your family at risk, but may also require firefighters, paramedics, police, and search and rescue teams to conduct dangerous rescue operations that could otherwise have been avoided.”
EmergencyInfoBC classifies an evacuation order as a risk to life and health requiring affected residents to leave their homes immediately. In contrast, an evacuation alert only asks for the readiness of affected residents.
Building on the request, APBC added that, with many regional hospitals facing service disruptions and emergency resources stretched thin, the need for paramedics to be available for emergencies is “more important than ever.”
“Every unnecessary rescue diverts valuable emergency resources away from patients and communities who may urgently need them,” paramedics said.
“Please support our emergency responders by following evacuation orders, staying informed through official emergency updates, avoiding unnecessary travel into affected areas, and checking in on neighbours, seniors, and vulnerable members of your community.”
Evacuations ordered
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has 583 properties on evacuation order due to the now-combined Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek wildfires, two due to the Rim Lake wildfire, four for the French Bar Creek wildfire, and 61 due to the Ainslie Creek wildfire. This includes the entireties of Clinton and 70 Mile House. These evacuees have been asked to flee to Kamloops, with Highway 97 closed before and after Clinton.
The Fraser Valley Regional District, meanwhile, has issued evacuation orders for the entire communities of Boston Bar, North Bend, and Canyon Alpine due to the threat of the Brunswick Complex fires, comprised of the Ainslie Creek and Brunswick Creek wildfires, as well as smaller blazes that have sparked in the area. The Boston Bar First Nation, Boothroyd Indian Band, and Nooaitch Indian Band have ordered those living in the area to leave their homes as well. Evacuees have been offered refuge at emergency centres in Chilliwack and Kamloops.
There are 134 wildfires actively burning across the province, but 99 have been extinguished in the last week, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
On Monday, officials said additional fire crews from Yukon, Alberta and Mexico were expected to arrive in the province in the coming days to help support the nearly 1,000 firefighters already on the ground.
