B.C. premier worried about ‘desensitizing’ public to state of emergency declaration

The Summerland wildfire has triggered the largest evacuation in British Columbia’s history. Tens of thousands of residents in Summerland and Penticton were ordered to leave their homes as a fast-moving blaze tore through the region.

Approximately 55 people were airlifted out after the fire forced a chaotic evacuation. An 80-year-old Meadow Valley woman died suddenly while attempting to leave her home with a family member, the first confirmed death linked to the Bald Range Wildfire.

On Monday’s Rebel Roundup livestream, Sheila Gunn Reid and Drea Humphrey both had plenty to say about how Premier David Eby’s government is responding to the catastrophe.

Eby was asked at a press conference why it took so long to declare a provincial state of emergency and whether this was the largest wildfire evacuation in the province’s history. His answer was that he didn’t want to “desensitize” people to how significant such a declaration is.

Sheila was quick to point out that B.C.’s state of emergency in response to COVID-19 lasted 469 days, from March 18, 2020, through July 1, 2021 — “for the flu,” she added.

“And he’s worried about desensitizing people to a state of emergency. Give me a break. We just saw the wall of flame at Summerland.”

Drea added that B.C. was the last jurisdiction in Canada to lift its COVID restrictions, and at the time, she could only find two other places in the entire world still maintaining similar measures.

The hosts also reacted to a post from Juno News journalist Kean Bexte showing two people allegedly throwing a barbecue into a river at Jackfish Lake in Banff National Park while a fire ban was in effect — apparently to hide it.

“Thank you, Mark Carney, for letting these new Canadians into our beautiful national parks for free,” Bexte wrote on social media.

Sheila noted the broader problem with making national parks free: no gate fee means no investment in upkeep, and increasingly, no respect for the land. “If there isn’t going to be respect for the vast beauty of this place,” she said, “throw the book at these people.”

The clip ended on a rare moment of good news, however, with home security footage of a water bomber making a drop directly in front of a Summerland family’s house, saving it from the fire that had already taken a shed and other outbuildings on the property.

“God bless our emergency response people,” Drea said. Those wishing to help can visit HelpSummerland.ca.

Rebel Roundup airs Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11 a.m. MT / 1 p.m. ET.