Order of defiance: Valley residents question evacuation order during public meeting
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The already roasting temperature in the Slocan Valley rose by several degrees Wednesday night as fire and regional district officials met with a heated group of valley residents in Winlaw to discuss the escalating conditions of several out-of-control wildfires.
Over 200 people filled the gymnasium of Winlaw Elementary School to hear about the state of five wildfires burning close to the mid-valley communities of Slocan, Lemon Creek and Silverton, and to a lesser extent Appledale and Winlaw.
The one-hour meeting — hosted by the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Emergency Operations Centre — started with an information session on the fires, followed by a lively question period and ended with a sobering declaration that an evacuation order had just been issued for the 200 residents of Silverton.
Although some were dissatisfied with the slow response of the B.C. Wildfire Service, and many questioned the thin contingent of resources being utilized on the fires, it was the proclamation of an evacuation order that many feared.
Citing an age-old sentiment that has been the mantra of valley residents since American Vietnam War resisters headed north in the mid-1960s and settled in the Slocan Valley, one resident asked what the consequences were of defiance of an evacuation order, if it were to be given for Slocan and the surrounding residences.
The lady acknowledged that firefighters were doing their best to bring the fires under control despite a shortage of resources, but “our homes are our homes. They mean everything to us while you are trying to fight the fires and protect everybody.
“My question is this: If we choose not to leave because it is our home and we are going to defend our home, what happens?” she asked.
The question drew loud applause from the people. RDCK Community Sustainability manager Dan Seguin said it was a common question at all public information sessions when faced with encroaching wildfires.
“I have not been on an evacuation order in my life, and it is a question I think I would ask myself, too, and I appreciate that,” he said. “If you are asked to leave and you have an evacuation order and you choose to stay, that is up to you. And you are allowed to stay there as you want, but you are going to have people coming to check on you and knocking on your door because they are concerned for your safety.”
Seguin added that people need to be aware of, from a legal safety standpoint, if there are minors (children) in the home, minors cannot stay in a home under evacuation order.
Another person wondered if it was a contract that would be entered into. The RDCK official replied that there was no contract.
RCMP commander of Slocan and Naksup detachments, Thomas Gill, interjected.
“In echoing that (thought) we are not going to be pulling people out, but we going to keep coming to check on you as long as it is safe and we will keep recommending that you leave,” he told the crowd.
“But if you are staying, we can’t have people moving back and forth unless they are wildfire fighters. The only time I would actually physically pull you out of there is if you are interfering with wildfire (fighting). Everyone else that is staying to defend their property, that’s fine. But please don’t interfere with these guys.”
Five fires threaten the area, including Aylwin Creek, Komonko Creek, Nemo Creek, Ponderosa FSR and Mulvey Creek. An incident management team from Australia has been deployed to the region and has taken command of the Slocan Lake complex beginning July 23.
Currently, Highway 6 is closed north of Slocan due to the Alwyn and Komonko fires — the only highway closure at this time — and an area restriction is in effect for the Slocan Lake Complex, with no current estimated time of reopening.
- Note: check drivebc.ca before traveling.
A state of local emergency has been declared for the area — the Slocan Valley — due to the Aylwin Creek wildfire. Under B.C.’s Emergency Program Act, when a state of emergency is declared, it gives the regional district’s Emergency Operations Centre “greater flexibility to access resources and respond efficiently to the imminent threat of wildfire across the region.”
Ponderosa FSR wildfire burning near Slocan — Timothy Schafer photo.
Getting out
An evacuation order requires people to leave the area immediately.
Evacuated residents are supposed to go to a pre-arranged emergency location and register online with Emergency Support Services (ESS) at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/. If people don’t have a pre-arranged location and require support, they can report to the Royal Canadian Legion in Slocan (502 Harold St).
Short-term assistance for immediate needs of food, shelter and clothing may be provided by ESS volunteers following registration at the above website. For further assistance people can call the RDCK EOC pubic inquiry line at 352-7701.
ESS likely won’t be able to accommodate pets, so make preparations for pets by having appropriate cages, food, water and bowls, and ensure they are wearing identification.
Access to the evacuation order area is being controlled. People will not be permitted to return to their homes during and evacuation order unless it is safe to do so and have been given permission by local officials and emergency personnel.
A helicopter flies through the smoke of Nemo Creek wildfire west of Slocan on Wednesday — Timothy Schafer photo.
Heating up
There have been 126 new fires reported across the Southeast Fire Centre region in the last 24 hours.
According to the fire centre, weather conditions are working against fire crews. Atmospheric instability has increased wind in many areas, combining with low relative humidity and current fuel conditions to cause fires to become more active and visible to surrounding areas.
There is hope, however, the Slocan Lake complex information team reporting a change in the weather on the way.
“As the low moves across, temperatures will decrease and there will be minimally improved recoveries of relative humidity,” noted an information sheet available at the Winlaw meeting.
Mulvey Creek wildfire — Timothy Schafer photo.
