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B.C. man dies after refusing to evacuate – Metro US

B.C. man dies after refusing to evacuate

A 52-year-old man died crushed by a tree while chopping firewood on Sunday near Meldrum Creek, in B.C.’s Cariboo region, officials said yesterday.

Grace Pickell, provincial fire information officer, said that area has more than 100 active fires and officials cannot access some of the worst-hit spots.

“Our main priority are fires consisting of over 24,000 hectares,” she said.

Kim Steinbart, B.C. fire information officer for Wildfire Management, said an additional 140 firefighters have been brought in from Alberta and Ontario.

“Over 2,000 B.C. firefighters continue working shifts to combat the active fires in the province,” Steinbart said.

“As of April 1, almost 68,000 hectares have been burned by the 1,168 fires across the province to date. Forty-three per cent of those fires were caused by humans.”

The fire danger rating for most of the province is expected to remain at extreme to high due to the dry weather conditions and little precipitation.