Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis said those disobeying evacuation orders are 含羞草研究社渘othing but selfish含羞草研究社� and they won含羞草研究社檛 be provided structural protection if the White Rock Lake wildfire continues to advance.
As of Friday afternoon (Aug. 6), the 43,500-hectare fire is burning only five kilometres west of Westside Road and more than 1,050 members of OKIB have already been evacuated, some having to travel to Penticton to find accommodations.
In a 1 p.m. update, the band said the fire is likely to reach the Whiteman area by this evening.
含羞草研究社淎s of this moment, we haven含羞草研究社檛 lost any buildings to the fire, but that could change today,含羞草研究社� the update reads.
Reports, however, of people refusing to abide by evacuation orders have Louis, an evacuee himself, frustrated.
含羞草研究社淭here should be a requirement that they do have to move,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭hey put our emergency response, firefighters and police at jeopardy.含羞草研究社�
BC Wildfire Services and structural protection units can含羞草研究社檛 drop water or retardant on occupied homes, Louis said, which means neighbours and the community as a whole will be affected by individuals who choose to stay behind.
含羞草研究社淒o these people have a right to jeopardize us?含羞草研究社� he asked, noting everyone else under the order who evacuated as instructed would have their homes put at risk due to the actions of one.
BC Wildfire Services and RCMP said people refusing to abide by orders put themselves and first responders at risk.
含羞草研究社淏ut those who chose to stay put my staff at tremendous risk in the path of the fire to get them out of harm含羞草研究社檚 way,含羞草研究社� BC Wildfire Services incident commander Scott Rennick said Thursday, Aug. 5. 含羞草研究社淒o not put my people in the position that some others did today.含羞草研究社�
If a first responder were to lose their life in a rescue mission involving someone who refused to follow orders, Louis said that individual should be held responsible whether it含羞草研究社檚 jail time or fines.
含羞草研究社淚ndividuals do not have the right to jeopardize others含羞草研究社� lives,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 like neighbours don含羞草研究社檛 think they have any effect. People basically have no feelings for anyone but themselves. Why should we coddle them?含羞草研究社�
The Okanagan Indian Band had started its community emergency plan when it flooded four years ago and evacuation protocol was established. Then, the band had to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
含羞草研究社淣ow all of a sudden we have fires,含羞草研究社� Louis said, noting those experiences helped prepare the band含羞草研究社檚 emergency protocols and support services.
含羞草研究社淥ur ESS has been exceptional and our staff 含羞草研究社� from communications to logistics to firefighting coordination 含羞草研究社� those people are phenomenal.含羞草研究社�
Louis also gave a grateful nod to his counterparts in neighbouring jurisdictions, including the Regional District of North Okanagan, the City of Vernon, Thompson-Nicola Regional District and beyond.
For up-to-date information regarding evacuation orders and alerts in place for the , visit or Okanagan Indian Band on Facebook 含羞草研究社� but Chief Louis says don含羞草研究社檛 use that social media platform to air out your own grievances.
含羞草研究社淥ur website is not a place for your personal views whether you are a member or non-member,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淒o not use our site for venting personal views.含羞草研究社�
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
newsroom@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on and follow us on .
