Man arrested while feeding neighbour's pet in wildfire evacuation zone

A 51-year-old man was arrested and escorted outside the community when police found him on a neighbour's property in 105 Mile House, which is currently evacuated due to wildfires.

According to Cpl. Janelle Shoihet, officers were patrolling the unincorporated community just a few kilometres from 100 Mile House in the central Interior when they saw a light turn on and off in a house they believed to be empty.

"They located an unsecured door with a bicycle outside," she said. "In the backyard, they found a man, a 51-year-old man, who was hiding in the bushes."

Officers later learned the man had been asked to check on a pet in the house who had been left behind when the evacuation was ordered on July 9.

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Although adults "of sound mind" are allowed to remain inside evacuation zones, Shoihet said the man's actions forced police to act.

"The residence's door is unsecured. To us, that is a break and enter," she said.

"We have to act on that."

Listen to the interview with Shoihet.

She said the man is facing one charge of being unlawfully in an evacuated zone, but a second charge of trespass at night will not be pursued. No charges have been approved by Crown counsel.

The man has been escorted out of the community and is no longer in police custody.

Numerous people are still inside areas evacuated due to wildfires, including ranchers, millworkers and the owner of a Tim Hortons in Williams Lake.

Additional police officers have also been deployed to the region to stave off looters and help maintain evacuated communities.

The SPCA has also deployed staff to the region to help check on and care for pets and livestock.

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