Firefighters diverted to rescue homeowner who ignored evacuation order near Pear Lake
A resident who refused to leave a fire-danger zone near Chasm forced crews to rescue him after his property became surrounded by flames, delaying other suppression work.
In the vicinity of Chasm, about 20 km north of Clinton, fire crews encountered a homeowner who declined to obey an evacuation order as the Pear Lake wildfire raged. Incident commander Bryce Moreira said the resident responded rudely when asked to leave, prompting the team to continue their work elsewhere. Later, the fire surrounded the property, and firefighters were called back to rescue the occupant, who was extracted without injury.
The diversion delayed suppression efforts on other at-risk properties. The B.C. Wildfire Service and the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. warned that such defiance endangers responders and strains emergency resources. Evacuation orders still cover around 1,600 properties, with an additional 3,000 under alert as the fire threatens communities like Clinton and 70 Mile House.
Why it matters
Defying evacuation orders endangers responders and hampers wildfire suppression, affecting community safety.
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