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INFORMATION BULLETIN
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2010PSSG0049-000977 |
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
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PUBLIC URGED TO OBEY FIRE EVACUATION ORDERS
VICTORIA – Despite cooling temperatures in the province, the forest fire situation in British Columbia remains elevated and people are being urged to follow all evacuation orders by not travelling into areas where orders are still in effect.
People who stay or travel into areas under evacuation orders may find themselves cut off from emergency services. Due to the unpredictability of the fires and smoke in the area, escape roads may be cut off and air evacuation may be impossible.
The RCMP and response agencies are reminding the public that failure to comply with evacuation orders not only puts you and your family at risk, it also puts the lives of emergency personnel in danger. Local authorities and emergency officials only ask people to leave their homes and designated areas when it is absolutely necessary and their safety cannot be guaranteed.
Under the Emergency Program Act, police can detain and lay charges against those who violate emergency orders in situations where violators withhold their identity from police. In these cases, police can also transport them out of the area subject to evacuation orders.
For the latest information on evacuation orders and alerts and wildfire activity, visit www.firesafebc.ca or the appropriate local government websites.
You can also follow the latest wildfire news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo.
If you see smoke or flames, please call *5555 on your cellphone, or call toll-free to
1 800 663-5555.
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Contact:
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Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Public Affairs Bureau
250 356-6961
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
