Clinton residents confront devastation as Pear Lake Wildfire recovery begins

Larabie lost his home and business in the fire. Despite that loss, he and his crew are helping residents remove their freezers from their homes, which were filled with food that spoiled during the extended period of time where the town and surrounding areas were left without power and other utilities.

“The community is all elderly people. We’re helping the community, picking up all the freezers,” Larabie told CFJC Today. “They can’t get them out of their basements. They’re too old. So we’re donating our time to go there and help them.”

Just up the road, signs of life are slowly returning to Clinton’s town centre. The Cariboo Lodge, and Petro Canada gas station were among the first businesses to reopen following the evacuation.

Longtime Clinton resident Ed Bly said after living through the 2017 Elephant Hill Fire, seeing the community open up on Saturday was both heartbreaking and a relief.

“When we returned back after the fire, it was actually heartbreaking and devastating to see where it had gone, what it had done and some of these places around didn’t survive,” Bly said.

Bly has lived in Clinton for more than 30 years. While the community has endured difficult periods before, the destruction surrounding the village is impossible to miss. A sight filled with evident scars: charred trees, an ominous smokey haze and piles of soot.

Mayor Roland Stanke said more than 100 structures were destroyed around the outskirts of Clinton. Within the village boundary, no homes were reportedly lost, but two commercial properties were destroyed — including Larabie’s.

“Even driving in the south end of town, it was just gut-wrenching to see what was the devastation,” Stanke said. “All the people, they’re all part of the community, even though they’re not in the village boundary.”

Larabie said he is determined to re-construct his home, even as he confronts what remains of the life he once had.

“It will be rebuilt by a professional carpenter, and it will be done at my speed,” Larabie said. “But it’s devastating. You can look around, you can see there’s literally nothing left.”

Mayor Stanke said receiving a phone call about property damage can’t simply prepare the town’s residents for the experience of standing face-to-face with the remains of their homes.

“To actually go out there and stand there and look at your property when there’s nothing left but ashes, it’s going to be gut-wrenching,” Stanke said. “I can’t even imagine. I’ve never experienced that myself, but I feel really, really bad for these people.”

Still stuck in the dynamics of wildfire season, Clinton remains under an evacuation alert, which means residents must be prepared to leave again if conditions change. The village also remains under a boil water advisory as officials await the results of water testing.

A community resiliency centre has opened inside the Clinton Curling Club, where returning residents can access water, food, cleaning supplies and other assistance.

“Everybody has different needs, different feels differently about things,” Stanke said. “They can go in there, they can speak to somebody.”

Officials warn residents may continue to see smoke within the fire’s perimeter as crews search for and extinguish hot spots. Smoke coming from old stumps or large trees surrounded by previously consumed fire-fuels generally does not pose an immediate threat. But flames near green, unburned vegetation should be reported as soon as it is spotted.

Discovered on July 17, the Pear Lake Wildfire seems to be regressing, though is continually growing, now mapping at 160,314.7 Hectares

For Larabie, the recovery begins among the ashes, and with the aspiration of once again having a home where his family can gather.

“A home where I can lay down in my bed at night and not be in a fifth-wheel travel trailer,” Larabie said. “Where my grandchildren can come back and play in the hot tub and swim with Papa and jump on their trampoline and have a beautiful home and a nice Christmas tree.”

by Jeremy Russo

Clinton residents confront devastation as Pear Lake Wildfire recovery begins

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