Why information officer kept camera rolling even as he fled B.C. wildfire with family

As a wildfire approached the town of Summerland, British Columbia, Erick Thompson, the senior manager of communications for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, decided to flee with his family. Despite the danger, Thompson chose to keep filming his experiences, recognizing the importance of providing real-time updates to anxious residents.

This decision came as no surprise, as Thompson's livestream videos have been crucial in connecting thousands of people with the latest information on evacuations and support. The videos are raw and unfiltered, capturing Thompson's constant communication, problem-solving, and moments of distraction. While Thompson has become a public face of the emergency response, he insists that his story is not about him but rather his dedication to providing accurate information.

The most dramatic moment of the livestream occurred when Thompson left the emergency operations center before resuming the video from his car, parked in the dark. He told the director of the district's emergency operations center that he wanted to keep livestreaming to demonstrate to residents that they, too, could remain calm in the face of the disaster.

With ash raining down, Thompson packed his family's belongings and alerted neighbors to evacuate. Despite only 30 people reportedly watching at the time, the dramatic video went viral, with Thompson's friend in Halifax expressing surprise at seeing a video of someone fleeing a wildfire. Thompson, however, downplays the significance of the moment, emphasizing that he was simply doing his job and staying true to his commitment to delivering the most reliable information possible.

The Bald Range fire has prompted a state of emergency in British Columbia, forcing over 20,000 residents of the Okanagan region to evacuate. Tragically, one woman has been confirmed dead, and the fire continues to burn out of control near the western shore of Okanagan Lake.