Graphic courtesy of the RCMP

By Liam Verster

RCMP Patrols In Evacuated Communities

No reports of criminality in evacuated communities: B.C. RCMP

Aug 20, 2021 | 6:30 AM

The B.C. RCMP is reassuring people forced from their homes due to wildfires that their property is still being protected.

Members of the RCMP across the province are patrolling evacuated areas, not only to ensure people have made it safely out of the areas, but also to prevent crime.

So far this wildfire season, over 500 officers have been deployed to assist in evacuated areas, including those in the Okanagan.

“The duties include conducting emergency notification of alerts and assisting with evacuation of emergency orders, conducting roving patrols, and also responding to police calls for service within evacuated alert areas and orders,” said Staff Sergeant Jannelle Shoihet.

“We’ve been working closely with our partners at the Search and Rescue, their volunteers, along with B.C. Conservation Service, the B.C. Wildfire Service, commercial vehicle inspectors and of course our firefighters. And we are working [in collaboration] with the emergency operations centres in the local areas in order to support the road checks that are being led by private security and MOTI (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) personnel.”

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She adds there has been no incidents in evacuated communities as of yet, but does understand that people are nervous of something happening when no one is around.

“To date we haven’t received any reports and we haven’t noted anything that would lead us to believe that there is any looting that is occurring,” said Shoihet.

“I want to reassure people that if you have concerns, then we are in your communities, and this is an excellent opportunity to reach out to your local police and ask ‘I’m concerned, I’ve seen something on my local television’ or ‘Can you just, while going through the community and conducting those proactive patrols, reassure me that you’ve been by, had a look at my home, and you can’t see any signs of criminality?'”

She notes that people with security cameras that do catch any suspicious activity should contact their local police and share any information or footage with them.

Shoihet adds there have also been concerns voiced by the public of RCMP officers not being stationed at road checks, but assures people that is because the officers have been tasked with patrolling the evacuated communities and that properly trained individuals are running the check stops.

“So I just want to reassure you that while you might not see us at those road checks, we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing that is assumed with the orders, and while you are away from your homes, we are making sure that your homes are safe by conducting those proactive patrols, looking and making sure there isn’t any signs of criminality at closed businesses, and making sure that while you’re away, your homes are safe.”