Why some B.C. farmers remain despite wildfire evacuation orders

Some B.C. farmers and ranchers are choosing to remain in wildfire evacuation zones to protect livestock, homes and livelihoods built over generations, despite officials’ repeated warnings that evacuation orders must be followed.

Tom Davison said his family’s orchard near Vernon was protected after his son-in-law installed firefighting equipment following a 2021 wildfire. When flames were pushed to the property’s fence line by high winds on Aug. 1, Davison’s son and son-in-law stayed after staff were evacuated and used hoses to protect the five-generation orchard. The evacuation order for Davison Orchards has since been lifted.

The Ministry of Agriculture said 221 registered agricultural premises in B.C. were under wildfire evacuation order as of Thursday. At Sweet Pea Farms near Vernon, nine people remained to protect more than 100 animals after winds intensified and road closures made it impossible to move all of them in time.

The Central Okanagan emergency management centre has told people remaining in zones affected by the Quilpituk Creek fire to leave, saying an evacuation order is a life-safety measure. Premier David Eby acknowledged the difficult choices faced by farmers with animals at risk, but said protecting human life remains the priority.

A provincial program can help farmers temporarily move animals to stockyards, feedlots, buddy farms and rodeo grounds. BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon said moving cattle by truck can be stressful, and that ranchers may help by moving herds over land and sharing local fire-behaviour information with incident commanders.

Adrian Arts of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association said farmers may try to protect property if doing so does not put others at risk. He noted that replacing a burned orchard can take years before newly planted trees begin producing fruit.