B.C. man watches 31-year family cabin burn in wildfire

Jeff Moore, a retired forestry firefighter, recounted the harrowing experience of watching his family's summer cabin of 31 years consumed by the Bradley Creek wildfire in British Columbia. The cabin, located on Okanagan Lake, was destroyed on Saturday as the fire rapidly spread.

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We were holding our own, but homes around me began to start on fire and it changed the whole game.

Moore, who specializes in wildfire suppression, stayed behind to protect the vacation property while his wife and family evacuated. However, the situation changed dramatically late in the day as sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour propelled the fire northward with alarming speed. "We thought we had more time," Moore stated, reflecting on the sudden escalation.

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We thought we had more time.

He managed to escape the encroaching flames by boat, using a neighbor's vessel. From the water, he witnessed the destruction of the cherished family retreat. "When things go over the top like this, there’s only so much that can be done," he observed, emphasizing the need for caution when lives are at stake.

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My wife and family were able to get out and they didn’t want to leave me there, but I kept telling them that the lake is my saviour.

The fast-moving inferno quintupled in size over five hours on Saturday, crossing Highway 97. As of Tuesday, the Bradley Creek wildfire had burned approximately 2,852 hectares. The chief of the Okanagan Indian Band reported that an estimated 230 homes have been lost. Several evacuation orders remain in effect for hundreds of properties across the region, though wildfire officials noted no significant growth on the fire Monday.

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When things go over the top like this, there’s only so much that can be done. It’s a time when you just have to stand back and say, ‘Hey, we gotta be cautious here. There’s lives at stake.’