Fire-ravaged B.C. needs federal aid, not federal election: Interior mayor

CLEARWATER (NEWS 1130) — Frustrated a federal election call comes during a devastating wildfire season in B.C., one mayor has a message for candidates —  including Justin Trudeau — thinking of hitting the campaign trail in the Interior: don’t come if you’re not going to help.

The Prime Minister arrived at Rideau Hall on Sunday morning to visit with Governor-General Mary Simon, kickstarting a 36-day campaign that will culminate with a vote on September 20. That announcement came as the wildfires raging in the B.C. Interior closed a major highway, and amid a growing number of evacuation orders and alerts. More than 766,000 hectares have already been scorched in the province, and while there is some rain in the forecast that brings worries of lightning-caused fires alongside hope for some relief.

We, the Mayors of TNRD, need more Canadian Forces help with the #bcwildfires. Every Muni in my region except mine is on Alert or Order! All hands on deck includes FEDERAL HELP! @JustinTrudeau @j_mcelroy @Jamloops @richardzussman @RadioNLNews @keithbaldrey @AlannaKellyNews

— Merlin Blackwell, Clearwater Mayor ????‍♂️ (@BlackwellMerlin) August 16, 2021

Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says people in this province are exhausted, anxious, and overwhelmed, and that what’s needed right now is federal aid and not a federal election.

“All the volunteers, the firefighters, all the crews that are working out there right now, they’ve been running full speed basically for six weeks at this point. We need some relief, and we need some extra hands on deck for sure,” he says, adding the mayor of evacuated Logan Lake and the chair of the hard-hit Thompson-Nicola Regional District have asked for more resources from the Candian military.

“All those people are so busy doing the things that they need to do to keep their community safe that I’m one of the last people that’s free enough to be able to speak publicly on this. I don’t believe we’ve had a positive response at this point. That’s why we’re starting to put on a little bit of political pressure and starting to say this out loud because we do need that kind of help.”

Urgent request from Logan Lake Mayor and TNRD Chair for military support in the fight to save Logan Lake. Where is @jjhorgan and his government? #bcpoli #bcwildfires #LoganLakeBC

— Jackie Tegart ???????? (@tegart_jackie) August 16, 2021

Blackwell says he’s worried campaigning will take precedence over coming to B.C.’s aid, and that the 2019 provincial election showed him how crucial it is to have an active government during a crisis.

“Anybody from the former government who is coming to BC —  bring a shovel, bring a bag of sandwiches, get ready with your work gloves to go to work. Because if you’re coming out here for anything else other than that, you better prepared to come and volunteer I’ll give you a job to do he says.

“Don’t come here if you’re not willing to come to work.”

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While Clearwater isn’t immediately threatened by any of the wildfires currently burning in the region, Blackwell says that could literally change with the wind. Meantime, as fires threaten communities to the south of his, and spaces for evacuees are scarce, they have activated the emergency operations centre.

“We have to prepare to be that lifeboat for some of these other communities,” he says.

There are now 268 fires in the province. Evacuations have been ordered for 6,607 properties, while another 16,022 are on alert and have been told to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. A state of emergency was declared July 20 and remains in effect.