The Homestead is Gone (CBC)

[Maybe you're looking for the 2006 Chilcotin Fires ]

News from the Lonesome fire is not good. A simple mention on this morning's CBC news that the homestead has gone neglects to mention the history and significance of the place and the part it has played. To get some idea of the role the Edwards family has played in the Tweedsmuir Park area, check out this Google search. Strange that the only (prominent public media) place in Canada one can read about this is in the Globe & Mail. (A Google News search for the same terms currently yields nothing.)

Anyway, from the frontiline, I am hearing:

We received (by helicopter) an Evacuation Alert message yesterday, but although the clouds from the fire storm last night were terrifying, the fire is actually burning up the Atnarko towards Charlotte Lake. Those folk really are in danger. We're okay unless the winds shift. Small consolation. John's homestead has gone. Chris also got notice and they panicked her and her guests, then told her nothing more. But the fire is two valleys away from her and moving away, so she also hasn't much to worry about. But we all will anyhow."

and a PS

I'm terribly upset about John - he was restoring that homestead and at his age, had little else besides his animals to keep him going. He'll probably now have a crusade...it was all so unnecessary. I haven't confirmed that his homestead is gone; that was on CBC.

The message was accompanied by these photos (click on them to see larger version):