B.C. firefighters frustrated with residents ignoring wildfire-prompted evacuation orders, then needing rescue
With resources stretched thin, B.C. firefighters are growing increasingly frustrated with people who refuse to leave their homes during evacuation orders.
Firefighters say they've been forced to divert their efforts putting out flames of wildfires to deal with a different emergency.
It's been an intense season so far, but some British Columbians are still staying behind, choosing instead to keep an eye on their properties.
And in some cases, as the fires close in, they've needed to be rescued.
"I'm aware of at least three situations where we had to divert our resources, either on the ground or in the air, to assist with evacuating people that got caught behind the fire line, and their evacuation route or escape route was cut off," said Rob Schweitzer, director of fire centre operations for the BC Wildfire Service.
In an update Tuesday, the BCWS tried to drive home the unusual severity of this fire season.
Over the past 10 years, there has been an average of 642 fires at this point in the season, burning through an average of 105,000 hectares of land.
So far this year, 1,230 wildfires have scorched 425,000 hectares.
"Across the western side of North America we are seeing these more extreme seasons – longer fire seasons and more intense fires – which is obviously increasing the costs quite significantly to suppress these fires," Schweitzer said.
With a report from CTV News Vancouver's Ben Miljure
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.