People in British Columbia have been warned to abandon their homes in order to avoid record-breaking wildfires. There are 408 active fires in British Columbia today, with 16 fires of note—flames that are extremely visible or endanger public safety.
This comes after an annual music festival in Princeton on Sunday was quickly evacuated due to the imminent threat posed by a raging wildfire in the area. A sense of urgency and fear replaced the happy notes of music and celebration as festival-goers, musicians, and organisers were compelled to prioritise their safety in the face of the raging wildfire. According to officials, a wildfire near Princeton, B.C., caused the evacuation of a music festival attended by up to 1,000 people on Sunday evening.
The B.C. Fire Service stated on social media that it is responding to the Rice Road blaze, located around 11 kilometres north-west of Princeton.
According to the report, the fire is about three hectares—roughly the size of six football fields—and can be seen from Princeton and adjacent towns, although no structures are currently threatened.
Tunes In Turmoil: A Music Festival Near Princeton, BC, Evacuated By Wildfire
Up to 1000 people are being evacuated from a music festival near Coalmont, due to a rapidly moving wildfire sparked by an ATV. https://t.co/Oul2aOFBa9
— Daniel Gray (he/him) (@Dannygrayfox) August 7, 2023
According to officials, a wildfire raging in the foothills near Princeton forced the Under the Stars music event to be evacuated on Sunday evening.
Social Sound, one of the event’s organisers, said the 5-day festival is being evacuated owing to a fire that is believed to be human-caused.
According to organisers, many were compelled to flee with little time to pack their goods or vehicles.
As of 11:30 p.m., the fire was slightly over one hectare in size, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Twitter/@erikdv
According to Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne, BC, Wildfire firefighters and fire crews from Coalmont and Tulameen are responding to the incident at White Sands Beach.
However, he claims that the region may only be able to accommodate a few people because it was already very crowded over the holiday weekend.
“We don’t have a lot of availability right now because it’s a long weekend, and this is a popular destination for long weekends.” There are no campsites or hotels, but our crews are seeking lodging if necessary,” Coyne said late Sunday.
Credit: Alana Baird
“We are concerned about the number of people in the area right now.” As a result, our Emergency Support Services (ESS) team is now conducting preliminary work in preparation for mass evacuations. No evidence will occur.” Coyne says one home is being evacuated, and event organisers say the exact location is being evacuated, adding that mobile service is poor in the region.
According to Twitter user Daniel Grey, who works for the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, up to 1,000 people are being evacuated due to an ATV fire.
New fire west of Princeton. Picture taken from Coalmont #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/dpfgtZKM1m
— Erik Dv (@erikdv) August 7, 2023
Meanwhile, spectators and organisers are forced to ponder the painful juxtaposition between the music festival’s lovely songs and the terrible reality of a wildfire’s devastating power. While the festival was evacuated, the spirit of unity and camaraderie formed in the face of tragedy will live on, reverberating long after the final music notes have died away.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn