About 160 Firefighters Forced to Leave Camp Due to Bear Activity in British Columbia’s Interior
August 31, 2023, 10:50 pm EST
In a recent incident, approximately 160 firefighters engaged in battling a wildfire in British Columbia’s Interior had to evacuate their camp due to persistent bear activity. The BC Wildfire Service expressed concerns over the safety of personnel within and around the camp located near Gold Bridge, which is approximately 100 kilometers west of Lillooet, B.C.
No injuries have been reported, and no harm has come to any animals. However, the bears were seen moving around the camp’s tents and infrastructure, prompting conservation authorities to deem it safer for the firefighters to leave the area. To ensure the well-being of the firefighters, the T’it’q’et First Nation and Lillooet municipal facilities are currently hosting them.
Conservation officers are working on assessing and providing guidance on plans to safely return the firefighting crews to the area as they continue their battle against the Downton Lake wildfire. Scavenging bears have been a recurring issue in different B.C. wildfire zones. To deter bears, authorities in the Shuswap region have been collecting refuse and refrigerators.
The Downton Lake fire has already burned 95 square kilometers of land and resulted in evacuation orders and alerts. However, the fire’s activity has remained low after recent rainfall in the area.
The Canadian Press © 2023