Nosey People In Boats Keep Getting In The Way Of Firefighters In BC
"Please please please STAY OFF MARA LAKE!! GIVE THE CREWS SPACE TO WORK!"
A B.C. wildfire is blazing in the Sicamous region around the shores of Mara Lake. This area is particularly popular for boaters and this has remained the case even as fires surround the water.
Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) for Shuswap has issued several notices to boaters who seem to be looking to get a front-row seat for the firefighting efforts.
A message to boaters on Mara Lake
"Our Tolonen has been stationed on Mara Lake keeping boats "coming out for a look" back, to provide a sufficient area for the helicopters to safely pick up water and deliver to this fire that is threatening Sicamous - 300 homes are on Evacuation Order. The request of our Station Leader - could the boats watch from the far side of the lake … please!" they wrote on Facebook.
The Old Town Bay Marina also asked boaters to keep their distance. "Please please please STAY OFF MARA LAKE!! GIVE THE CREWS SPACE TO WORK!"
Another message from RCMSAR read, "Too many boats, all coming out to watch, and causing difficulty for the helicopters to quickly pick up water to bucket onto this fire … please give them room and watch from a distance!"
The fire has forced thousands of people to leave their homes, according to CTV News.
It started when a van hit a hydro pole, causing fallen power lines to ignite a fire, according to the mayor of Sicamous.