Linda Code (left) sits with her partner Andrew Schmidt (right) in Pritchard Beach Park alongside other evacuees.Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

WHITE ROCK LAKE FIRE

Pritchard evacuees lean on other residents after White Rock Lake fire threatens hundreds of properties

Aug 6, 2021 | 4:31 PM

KAMLOOPS – The northern flank of the White Rock Lake wildfire is around 13 km southeast of Pritchard, putting hundreds of properties on evacuation order.

Many were woken up in the middle of the night to be informed of the situation. Linda Code and Andrew Schmidt got a knock on their door at 3 a.m. They told CFJC News they were frightened when they learned they had to evacuate in the middle of the night.

The couple was among numerous Pritchard residents ordered to evacuate as the White Rock Lake fire rolled north from Monte Lake.

“We spent, you know, the night in our home and we looked out and we could see the stars. And we thought, ‘Oh, this is great. Things are better,’ and then we went to bed and a series of phone calls, and then a 3 a.m. wake-up and ‘Get out, away you go,'” Code said.

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The knock on the door was a literal wake up call for the couple, who were completely caught off guard.

“You leave your home thinking you’re not coming back, so it’s very frightening,” said a tearful Code.

“Yeah, it’s deciding what to take and what to leave…” Schmidt added.

According to Thompson Nicola Regional District Chair Ken Gillis, the fire that destroyed buildings in Monte Lake Thursday night, is on its way over the hill towards Pritchard. And if it continues in that direction, he believes the community will be in serious danger.

But with Kamloops full of evacuees from other fires, and over a thousand homes evacuated in the TNRD where will the people of Pritchard go?

Gillis believes they will be sent to Chilliwack.

“We try our level best to keep people as close to their homes as possible because, you know, it’s traumatic enough to be moved out of your home,” said Gillis.

It’s not just people that need a place to stay, it’s livestock too.

During an interview with CFJC News, Code and Schmidt stopped to point out the line-up of tractors filled with livestock driving away from evacuated properties.

“Look at the tractors coming in. See? All the livestock, they all have to move them out. It is a big undertaking,” said Code.

Residents not on evacuation order are stepping up to the plate. One farm owner is taking in animals from evacuated properties.

Pritchard resident Alanna Clapp (not under evacuation) has opened her farm to evacuated livestock. Anyone is welcome to drop off their animals. The farm is in need of hay donations and chicken fencing.

Clapp is also hoping that Kamloops farm owners will step up as a back-up livestock evacuation centre in case her property goes under evacuation order as well.

Across the street, Linda Desroches, who wasn’t evacuated, said she is doing all she can to help. Friday morning she woke up early to make coffee and breakfast sandwiches and handed them out to evacuees all over the community.

It’s a sweet reminder to evacuees that in times of need, a stranger can lend a helping hand.

“She made some biscuits with egg and bacon and sausage,” Schmidt said.

“It means a lot, it means a great deal. I mean, we’ve got to know quite a few people from our community, because we live in different areas, right? But it’s always nice when you meet good people,” Code said.