‘It was difficult’: Residents of Clinton, B.C. recount evacuating wildfires

Residents of Clinton, British Columbia, are sharing their difficult experiences as fast-moving wildfires force evacuations across the province. The village of Clinton, located about 350 km northeast of Vancouver, was placed under an evacuation order as the Pear Lake wildfire advanced rapidly.

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It was difficult.

Bruce Kirkby described the evacuation as "difficult," recounting hours spent trying to gather his four cats before fleeing. He eventually had to leave some behind, hoping they could survive at his home. Kirkby also noted unprecedented traffic congestion as residents attempted to leave the area, describing it as "very busy, really busy. I’ve never seen it so busy. Never seen so many cars."

The Village of Clinton reported that firefighters worked through the night to protect the community, successfully preventing widespread destruction. Despite the ongoing threat, the village stated, "Clinton has been preserved from major loss." Thanks were extended to the Clinton Fire Department, BC Wildfire Service, and responding crews for their efforts.

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As I was about to put them in the cat cages, they got loose.

However, the full extent of structural damage has not yet been determined. It remains too dangerous to assess affected properties. Joanne Mitchell, a resident of a seniors' housing complex, noted that residents had endured weeks of smoke, ash, and poor air quality before the evacuation order. She expressed concern that vulnerable residents should have been evacuated sooner.

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It was very busy, really busy. I’ve never seen it so busy. Never seen so many cars.

Power remains out in the village, and road access is closed as emergency services manage the situation. While the majority of Clinton's residential area appears to have survived the immediate threat, officials caution that "it’s still an active wildfire situation, so we’re not out of the woods yet." The fire has reportedly split, moving in new directions, and the safety assessment of damaged properties is pending.

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Clinton has been preserved from major loss.