After an exhausting weekend of working to protect his community, a North Shuswap firefighter is now speaking up for it.

In a Monday morning (Aug. 21) phone call to the Observer, B次元官网网址淛amesB次元官网网址� (who asked his name not be used), explained heB次元官网网址檚 a firefighter with a Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) fire department in the North Shuswap, before sharing his concern that authorities were preventing donated supplies from being delivered to the area.

B次元官网网址淢y wife is over there right now, trying to send me supplies to refuel me, to keep me going because weB次元官网网址檝e been running 72 hours on five hours of sleep in no less than 20 life-or-death situations with 300 feet of flames coming at meB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� said James. B次元官网网址淢y wifeB次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 trying to put boxes of socks and underwear B次元官网网址� because I canB次元官网网址檛 do laundryB次元官网网址� and cigarettes and energy drinks onto a boat and send it over to me. ItB次元官网网址檚 on one of our friendB次元官网网址檚 boats and a trailer is trying to back it in and they wonB次元官网网址檛 let them unload it.B次元官网网址�

North Shuswap communities including Lee Creek, Scotch Creek and Celista have been under an evacuation order since Friday evening, Aug. 18, when whatB次元官网网址檚 now referred to as the Bush Creek East wildfire was pushed in a southeast direction by intense winds.

People are strongly advised to leave areas under an evacuation order. Emergency Management BC warns those who do not put themselves and others at risk.

James credited fellow firefighters from his department, as well as other locals who stayed behind and spent the weekend fighting to protect structures, first from the spread of Bush Creek East, and then subsequent spot fires.

He explained those who continue the fight, such as Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) firefighters and private citizens, are finding their efforts hindered by authorities.

B次元官网网址淚 was running in my personal vehicle in my firefighting gear with an SPU specialistB次元官网网址� and the police were stopping us and not letting us go throughB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� said James. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e only got 15 feet (fire truck) and weB次元官网网址檝e got 30 firefighters, so weB次元官网网址檙e running personal vehicles to get guys around and now the police are stopping us.B次元官网网址�

CSRD administrator and Emergency Operations Centre director John MacLean recognized the exhausting efforts of North Shuswap firefighters but said they were receiving food on a regular basis as well as rest periods as required under the Workers Compensation Act.

MacLean urged James to share his concerns through the chain of command.

B次元官网网址淲e have a command structure, if they need more resources, they have every opportunity to request them,B次元官网网址� said MacLean, who stressed CSRD firefighters provide an essential service and are exempt from the evacuation order.

On Monday afternoon, the CSRD issued a media release stating it understands residents wanting to stay in an evacuation order area to protect their properties. However, B次元官网网址渨e must stress that this decision puts both you and our tireless responders at high risk and directly conflicts with the issued evacuation order.B次元官网网址�

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North Shuswap resident Angela Lagore said she and her family, the Bischoffs, are also concerned with safety and loss of property B次元官网网址� this is why they elected to stay behind and fight.

B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day weB次元官网网址檙e not going anywhere, weB次元官网网址檙e here to fight the fires B次元官网网址� and without my dad and that whole crew doing what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing, and building the fire guard and trying to protect the community with machines, there would be even more destruction,B次元官网网址� said Lagore. B次元官网网址淭his whole community would be gone.B次元官网网址�

Lagore runs The Hub, a restaurant in Scotch Creek. She said plans were in place to use The Hub as support space to provide those on the frontline of the firefighting efforts with cooked meals. But that plan was dropped after she and Electoral Area F director Jay Simpson attempted to retrieve supplies being delivered by boat, and were told by RCMP they required a permit to do so.

B次元官网网址淚nstead of treating this situation like people are heroes doing this stuff B次元官网网址� hereB次元官网网址檚 some fuel, hereB次元官网网址檚 some water B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 constant roadblocks and itB次元官网网址檚 causing chaos for absolutely no reason,B次元官网网址� said Lagore, noting everyone working to protect the North Shuswap right now is physically and mentally exhausted, and that rain couldnB次元官网网址檛 come soon enough.

The CSRD said, for those who need to evacuate via the Seymour Arm route, facilitators are available to assist with their evacuation route.

B次元官网网址淲e cannot emphasize enough the critical importance of evacuating areas under an Evacuation Order,B次元官网网址� said the CSRD. B次元官网网址淵our safety and the safety of our responders are our top priorities. Please heed the Evacuation Orders for your own well-being and that of your community.B次元官网网址�

Despite all these challenges brought by the wildfire, James is determined to stay and continue the fight.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 our community,B次元官网网址� said James, overwhelmed with emotion. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to let my neighboursB次元官网网址� houses burn to the groundB次元官网网址�WeB次元官网网址檒l all fight with our face to the flames and our backs to the wake (on the lake) until we canB次元官网网址檛 no more.B次元官网网址�

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