‘I’m sticking here for the long run’: BC cattle rancher defies orders to leave wildfire area
Posted July 15, 2017 11:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
108 MILE RANCH (NEWS 1130) – He’s not leaving, and you can’t make him.
That’s what a BC cattle rancher is saying as he continues to defy orders to leave the Cariboo where wildfires are threatening property and possibly his life.
“(It’s) frustrating and maddening to have to fight the fire and then, fight the conservation officers who are the worst ones –and the police,” says Ed Monical.
Monical’s property in 108 Mile is near the Gustafsen fire, which has been burning since July 7th. It’s forced many of his neighbours to abandon their homes.
“I’m not leaving at all. No, I’m sticking here for the long run, you betcha. I’ve got a lot of land here, you know, trying to keep the grass fires down and right now, we’re hosing down hot spots on our property.”
“The real, major danger is over now.”
He says he was able to save all his livestock the day the fire started and he’s grateful for firefighters working in the area. But he has no love for authorities who’ve repeatedly hassled his family and other friends refusing to leave.
