Their mistake cost me everything

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

"Their mistake cost me everything that my family accumulated for a lifetime, plus myself," he says. "As of right now, I am essentially destitute."  -  John Edwards Photo of the burnt-down homestead

The significance of the loss of the Edwards homestead has finally dawned on CBC.

There is deep sadness amongst those who know John, his parents and their work.

An evacuation order has been issued July 26, 2004 16:45 PM by the Office of the Fire Commissioner for the residents of the Charlotte Lake recreational community east to highway 20. BCFS staff aided a homesteader the southeast Lonesome Lake in his voluntary departure from his home on the evening of July 23. -  BC Forest Service official announcement

This fire is now the largest burning in British Columbia bringing other homes in the area under threat.  The debate on whether fires need to be allowed to burn has no simple answer but I am familiar with some of the people and places in this area (I designed web sites for some) and the destruction of large areas of forest will be a blow, even if it leaves their facilities unscathed.