BC wildfires: ‘Unified strategy at risk’: People urged again to heed evacuation orders | FULL

It’s been nearly a week since mass evacuations were ordered due to raging wildfires in B.C., but the province is still repeating its call for people to heed them.

“I know that some people want to stay and fight. I understand that, but it is also my duty to be clear about the risks to people and emergency crews,” Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Bowinn Ma said Wednesday.

“This has become an increasingly divisive issue within the community and outside, and let me be clear our collective fight is with the wildfire, but in order to do this our efforts need to be united.”

While their intentions may be laudable, the minister said those who shelter in place put the BC Wildfire Service’s “whole unified strategy at risk.” Certain firefighting tactics can’t be deployed with civilians in the way, she explained, nor can firefighters do their jobs effectively if their gear has been moved.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9914774/bc-wildfire-update-august-23-2023/

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