Burns Lake councillor says family south of François Lake have been told there aren't enough resources for them

'Imagine everything you've ever loved, every memory you've ever had in an area. Imagine that black and gone.'

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There is yet another evacuation alert in effect because of the province’s worsening wildfire situation.

More than 4,500 people living in and around Kimberley in the Kootenays have been told to get ready to leave at a moment’s notice as the flames spread. The Meachan Creek wildfire is about 57km². Winds gusting up to 40 km/h pushed the fire north yesterday.

But it appears people on some of the rural properties on the outskirts of evacuation alert areas are being left to fend for themselves.

Charlie Rensby is a councillor in Burns Lake, which is being threatened by the Shovel Lake wildfire. It is 680km² — more than 170 times the size of Stanley Park — making it the largest in B.C.

He had nothing but good things to say about the overworked BC Wildfire Service but called the situation “very frustrating.”

“I have family south of François Lake, who have been told there just isn’t the resources there to assist them… there’s just so many other places that need resources. They aren’t going to get any help there. So right now, my family is out there, trying to protect their farm and their livelihood, along with all their neighbours.”

(Courtesy: BC Wildfire Service)

Rensby said it’s difficult to see in his community, estimating the visibility at a half kilometre, with all the smoke.

“I’ve developed a bit of a chest cough from all the smoke. It’s definitely taking its toll. I can only imagine what a toll it’s taking on some of the other citizens who are elderly and very young.”

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‘There’s nothing left… It’s all gone’

“Imagine everything you’ve ever loved, every memory you’ve ever had in an area. Imagine that black and gone. A couple of days ago, I was out driving in some of my family’s hunting territory — I’m a hunter. I shot my first moose there. That block now, there’s nothing left of it… It’s all gone. Nothing can quite take the wind out of you quite like that.”

When asked if he is satisfied with how the B.C. wildfire situation is being handled, he said it was a difficult question to answer.

“The B.C. Wildfire branch has been doing a bang-up job with what they have. They have been working around the clock, trying to make sure everyone is safe and trying to get every base covered that they can. There are so many wildfires this year, they simply can’t cover every base. This is such a huge disaster for our area and the province — it’s hard to get extra resources because there are so many calls out for them.

“But at the same time, I can’t help but feel that possibly, the provincial government should have listened to the people who were warning last year that that was going to be the new normal. I think possibly, in the future, the government should look at adopting more of a proactive than reactive approach to wildfires in British Columbia.”

He argued prescribed burns to get rid of remaining fuel — such as branches and broken up logs — aren’t done as often as they were about 15 years ago.

Rensby added he is extremely proud of everyone in his community.

“Everyone has a personal touch or personal effect that they’ve felt. Everyone in this community has that. But we don’t give up.”

– With files from Kenny Mason