As more images emerge from the fire-ravaged Village of Clinton, the danger is not over yet — and that’s why authorities urge people to heed evacuation orders. “Only personnel involved in the co-ordinated B.C. wildfire response should be in that evacuation order area,” said Jamie Vieira with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Emergency Operations Centre. In a virtual meeting held Thursday afternoon to update evacuees on the situation, an incident commander with the B.C. Wildfire Service relayed a story from the field. Bryce Moreira said crews told a man it was getting too dangerous to stay on his property because flames were closing in. According to Moreira, the man used explicit language to towards firefighters and refused to leave. He said at that point, crews left the man and continued fighting the fire. “Later, they were called and asked to go back because this person’s property was surrounded by fire and they were not able to get out,” Moreira said. “Fortunately, our crews were able to respond, get that person to safety. All our crews are safe. And so is that person as well.” Mother and son duo Maria and Nicholas Kosovic used their café in downtown Clinton to prepare meals for firefighters right up until the evacuation order came down. “These firefighters, they require a very large amount of calories. They are working extremely hard,” said Maria Kosovics. Now in Kamloops, they have learned the fire consumed a barn on their property, and some restaurant equipment. “Considering the losses of some people in the community, including some of my very close friends, we consider ourselves incredibly fortunate, and to be conscious of people who have lost their homes and everything that they own,” Nicholas Kosovic told CTV News. The B.C. Wildfire Service said it plans to conduct a controlled burn north of Clinton to eliminate forest fuel, as crews work to prevent any more losses in the community.
