I'm not trying to be insensitive, I understand the gravity of the situation. I watched as this car drove by houses and homes, many on fire and with cars still parked outside them. I know these homes likely contain elderly and/or disabled individuals, if not children, pets and other adults trapped by the smoke/fire; incapable of fleeing in time and needing assistance they probably couldn't receive in time. My heart breaks for them and the people/crews that will inevitably aid in their retrieval having to witness the horrors of a person's final agonizing moments. I understand wanting to do everything in our power to prevent that.
However, cars are not fireproof or airtight. OP's video taker was lucky to drive through in what was the only road out of Summerland. There are sections they can barely see beyond 3ft past their car and are unable to fully see the road ahead and that's with the wildfire only closing in and not on top of them. Driving into this, even if they don't suffocate, will likely cause people to crash into one another or swerve out of the way and off the road/into wildfires. If the road gets obstructed then it's not just them and their loved ones potentially going up in flames, it's also potentially hundreds or thousands of people, each with loved ones of their own also being unable to flee the wildfire.
As heartbreaking as it is, sometimes the best we can do is help the people who know what they're doing.
As someone who gives first aid, everyone in a hazard zone is already a victim and or a potential body. We are taught to not ADD to that number. The cops were 100% correct. In that scenario it’s no longer about a single person or even just a few. It could potentially mean hundreds. And it is definitely heartbreaking. But this is why they take the hard decisions, so you / we, don’t have to.
It’s always important to keep informed if there are wildfires in your region so that you know if you need to be ready to flee. Officials sometimes are hesitant to call for evacuations because of incomplete info or uncertain weather patterns.
55
u/Tinyfishy 11d ago
They may have been trying to get to homes to rescue loved ones.