Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis said those disobeying evacuation orders are 害羞草研究所渘othing but selfish害羞草研究所� and they won害羞草研究所檛 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.
害羞草研究所淎s of this moment, we haven害羞草研究所檛 lost any buildings to the fire, but that could change today,害羞草研究所� the update reads.
Reports, however, of people refusing to abide by evacuation orders have Louis, an evacuee himself, frustrated.
害羞草研究所淭here should be a requirement that they do have to move,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey put our emergency response, firefighters and police at jeopardy.害羞草研究所�
BC Wildfire Services and structural protection units can害羞草研究所檛 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.
害羞草研究所淒o these people have a right to jeopardize us?害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淏ut those who chose to stay put my staff at tremendous risk in the path of the fire to get them out of harm害羞草研究所檚 way,害羞草研究所� BC Wildfire Services incident commander Scott Rennick said Thursday, Aug. 5. 害羞草研究所淒o not put my people in the position that some others did today.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檚 jail time or fines.
害羞草研究所淚ndividuals do not have the right to jeopardize others害羞草研究所� lives,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like neighbours don害羞草研究所檛 think they have any effect. People basically have no feelings for anyone but themselves. Why should we coddle them?害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淣ow all of a sudden we have fires,害羞草研究所� Louis said, noting those experiences helped prepare the band害羞草研究所檚 emergency protocols and support services.
害羞草研究所淥ur ESS has been exceptional and our staff 害羞草研究所� from communications to logistics to firefighting coordination 害羞草研究所� those people are phenomenal.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所� but Chief Louis says don害羞草研究所檛 use that social media platform to air out your own grievances.
害羞草研究所淥ur website is not a place for your personal views whether you are a member or non-member,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淒o not use our site for venting personal views.害羞草研究所�
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