'We're not leaving': Tempers flare between First Nation, RCMP amid wildfire evacuation order

A B.C.First Nations chief says emotions ran high betweenhimself and the RCMP when he told officers residents wouldn't be obeying an evacuation order as several wildfiresthreaten the community.

On Sunday, Chief Joe Alphonseof the Tl'etinqoxFirst Nation community ofAnahamReserve announced that some members of the community would be staying behind, several tofight the fire.

The community, about two hours west ofWilliams Lake, isn't far fromseveralout-of-control fires in the Hancevillearea. The 5,000-hectare Gustafsen fire is also to the southeast.

The First Nation was placed under anevacuation order on Sunday, but Alphonse said he won't be leaving.

"We're going to fight for our place," the chief said. "We'd rather be out there fighting, protecting, than allow somebody else. We appreciate the work [of firefighters] butthis is what we want."

As of Tuesday, Alphonse said 300 people a third of the community were still in the area, though he said "more and more" were trickling out every day.

Officials clash

The chief said he had a run-inwith the RCMPon Sunday over his decision to stay put.

"I notified them [the officers] that we're not leaving," he told CBC News.

"Community stress levels were really high and RCMP said, for those that don't leave, they will call the Ministry of Children and remove the children."

After that,Alphonse said, tempers flared.

"At that point, I kind of lost it a little bit and said, 'We're not leaving.' If you guys want to set up roadblocks on both ends of our reserve, that's fine, but we'll set up roadblocks right beside yours to stop you guys getting in. They told me our roadblock won't hold them back, but I said, 'It may not hold you back, but once you start dodging bullets, you'll start turning around.'"

Asked to clarify the latter part of his comments, Alphonsesaid, "Take it however you want, I made a statement and that's that."

However, RCMPspokesperson Sgt. Annie Linteau said late Tuesdayin an emailed statementthe RCMPdon't believe thecomment reflects the recent and continued meetings it has had with the chief since those statements were made.

"Our RCMP First Nations policing officers continue to engage with the community and there is an understanding around our concerns for their safety," she said.

RCMPwill 'act to protect' children's safety: officer

When an evacuation order goes into effect, the RCMP mandate is to advise people to move to safety and inform them of the risks they'd take in staying behind.

Adults who are mentally competentare entitled to remain on their property if they wish. However, Mounties couldremove minors under the Child, Family and Community Service Act,if they were in danger.

"Children may be removed for their own safety," Linteau said. "It's certainly not where we want to get, and there's a fair amount of discretion, but we do have a responsibility to protect those who are not in a position to make adult decisions."

The E Division officer addedthere would be little RCMPcoulddo, if residents who ignore evacuation orders were to requesthelp later on.

"At the end of the day, if the situation worsens, the safetyof our officers will be paramount and we're not going to put them in a position that will get them hurt."

'We're proud people'

On Sunday, B.C. Forests Minister John Rustad who is also the member of the legislature for Nechako Lakes said Alphonse's decision to stay put was "troubling."

"I understand why he wants to do it, but this is a serious risk given the challenge of what could happen with rapid moving fires," he wrote on Facebook.

The chiefsaid the community is well-prepared to hold its ground, with enough food and medicine to last a few weeks.

"We're proud people and we want to fight for what we have left," he said."We may lose everything, but if we do, then at least we know we gave it 110 per cent. There's comfort in that."