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B.C. resort owner says devastating wildfire was like a ‘Michael Bay film’
🇨🇦 Canada /Disasters & Emergencies

B.C. resort owner says devastating wildfire was like a ‘Michael Bay film’

From Global News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • The Blue Lake Resort in British Columbia's Fraser Canyon suffered extensive damage from a recent wildfire.
  • Owner Shayne Findlay described the fire's intensity, comparing it to a "Michael Bay film."
  • Despite the devastation, Findlay expressed gratitude for customer support and a commitment to rebuilding.

The owners of Blue Lake Resort in British Columbia's Fraser Canyon are facing their most challenging summer after a devastating wildfire swept through their property. Shayne Findlay, one of the owners, returned to survey the damage, finding the manager's house, a staff trailer, and seasonal renters' trailers completely destroyed.

What we had here was, first it was the manager’s house, fairly old building, then we had another staff trailer, which is like a tiny home. And then these spots here belong to people who are seasonal renters. They would have their trailers up here

— Shayne FindlayFindlay describing the extent of the damage to the resort property.

Findlay described the fire's ferocity, noting that sprinklers placed around the property were ineffective. "It meant nothing," he stated, as the flames consumed the buildings. Wildfire crews are now working to remove dangerous trees surrounding the burned areas before any cleanup or rebuilding can begin. Findlay estimates this process will take months, not weeks.

If you see the lines on the ground there, that was all sprinkled. They had sprinklers all the way around there. Didn’t matter.

— Shayne FindlayFindlay explaining the ineffectiveness of the resort's fire suppression systems.

Despite the loss, Findlay expressed relief that they had sufficient notice to evacuate the property safely. He found watching the fire on the resort's webcams harrowing, comparing the sight of "big embers swirling, scattering" to a "Michael Bay film." He acknowledged the fire's unstoppable nature: "If the fire’s coming, it’s coming. That’s it."

It meant nothing

— Shayne FindlayFindlay's reaction to the failure of the sprinklers against the wildfire.

Findlay was deeply moved by the outpouring of support from loyal customers and visitors. He recognized the resort as more than just a vacation spot, stating, "you see them come and go and you think, yeah, we’re a place they go have vacation, but man, this is, it reframes it a lot." This support fuels his determination to rebuild, emphasizing the mutual need for the resort's future. Saeed Mansouri, who managed the resort's operations, lost his home and personal belongings, including records, photos, and poems, but remains committed to rebuilding alongside the owners.

You can’t have people in here to start cleaning up until the trees are gone

— Shayne FindlayFindlay outlining the necessary steps before cleanup can begin.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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