Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis said those disobeying evacuation orders are 鈥渘othing but selfish鈥� and they won鈥檛 be provided structural protection if the White Rock Lake wildfire continues to advance.
As of Friday afternoon (Aug. 6), the 43,500-hectare fire is burning only five kilometres west of Westside Road and more than 1,050 members of OKIB have already been evacuated, some having to travel to Penticton to find accommodations.
In a 1 p.m. update, the band said the fire is likely to reach the Whiteman area by this evening.
鈥淎s of this moment, we haven鈥檛 lost any buildings to the fire, but that could change today,鈥� the update reads.
Reports, however, of people refusing to abide by evacuation orders have Louis, an evacuee himself, frustrated.
鈥淭here should be a requirement that they do have to move,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey put our emergency response, firefighters and police at jeopardy.鈥�
BC Wildfire Services and structural protection units can鈥檛 drop water or retardant on occupied homes, Louis said, which means neighbours and the community as a whole will be affected by individuals who choose to stay behind.
鈥淒o these people have a right to jeopardize us?鈥� he asked, noting everyone else under the order who evacuated as instructed would have their homes put at risk due to the actions of one.
BC Wildfire Services and RCMP said people refusing to abide by orders put themselves and first responders at risk.
鈥淏ut those who chose to stay put my staff at tremendous risk in the path of the fire to get them out of harm鈥檚 way,鈥� BC Wildfire Services incident commander Scott Rennick said Thursday, Aug. 5. 鈥淒o not put my people in the position that some others did today.鈥�
If a first responder were to lose their life in a rescue mission involving someone who refused to follow orders, Louis said that individual should be held responsible whether it鈥檚 jail time or fines.
鈥淚ndividuals do not have the right to jeopardize others鈥� lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like neighbours don鈥檛 think they have any effect. People basically have no feelings for anyone but themselves. Why should we coddle them?鈥�
The Okanagan Indian Band had started its community emergency plan when it flooded four years ago and evacuation protocol was established. Then, the band had to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淣ow all of a sudden we have fires,鈥� Louis said, noting those experiences helped prepare the band鈥檚 emergency protocols and support services.
鈥淥ur ESS has been exceptional and our staff 鈥� from communications to logistics to firefighting coordination 鈥� those people are phenomenal.鈥�
Louis also gave a grateful nod to his counterparts in neighbouring jurisdictions, including the Regional District of North Okanagan, the City of Vernon, Thompson-Nicola Regional District and beyond.
For up-to-date information regarding evacuation orders and alerts in place for the , visit or Okanagan Indian Band on Facebook 鈥� but Chief Louis says don鈥檛 use that social media platform to air out your own grievances.
鈥淥ur website is not a place for your personal views whether you are a member or non-member,鈥� he said. 鈥淒o not use our site for venting personal views.鈥�
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