Wildfire crews rescue man who refused to leave Clinton-area property

Authorities are again urging people to obey evacuation orders as wildfire danger continues around the Village of Clinton. Jamie Vieira of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Emergency Operations Centre said only personnel involved in the co-ordinated B.C. wildfire response should be in the evacuation-order area.

B.C. Wildfire Service incident commander Bryce Moreira told evacuees during a Thursday virtual update that crews warned one man his property had become too dangerous as flames closed in. The man refused to leave, Moreira said, so crews continued firefighting elsewhere.

Crews were later asked to return after the property became surrounded by fire and the man could not get out. They were able to bring him to safety; Moreira said both the man and the firefighters were safe.

Maria and Nicholas Kosovic had prepared meals for firefighters at their downtown Clinton café until the evacuation order was issued. Now in Kamloops, they have learned a barn on their property and some restaurant equipment were lost. They said they felt fortunate compared with community members who lost homes and belongings.

The B.C. Wildfire Service plans a controlled burn north of Clinton to reduce forest fuels as crews work to prevent further losses.