British ColumbiaOfficials are advising anyone within the evacuation order boundaries to leave the area immediately.Officials advise anyone under evacuation order to leave the area immediatelyCourtney Dickson · CBC News · Posted: Sep 08, 2025 10:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoRalph and Grace Terpstra, pictured in 2023, are the owners of Anahim Lake Resort. (Anahim Lake Resort/Facebook)Hundreds of properties in B.C.’s Chilcotin region were ordered to evacuate on Friday as a cluster of wildfires burned close by. But while their neighbours fled, Ralph Terpstra and his wife Grace decided to stay put. The pair own the Anahim Lake Resort, a small campground on the eastern shore of the lake, and smack dab in the middle of the evacuation order boundaries. They host RVs and tents, and even have a few cabins on site — cabins that are currently housing 37 wildland firefighters. Firefighters have stayed at the resort while fighting wildfires for the past three years, Terpstra said. “And each one I’ve asked: what would you suggest should we evacuate or not in case?” he told CBC’s Daybreak Kamloops. “They all suggested just stay here and defend what we got.”So, he stays. “It just feels good that we’re supplying showers, clean water and a safe place for them to sleep.”The resort has been closed to the public since Friday.Terpstra said his property is well maintained: he keeps the yard clean, free from wildfire fuel like dead grass or wood. He has water pumps in the lake and sprinklers out and at the ready. And, of course, he has several B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) personnel on site. Anahim Lake Resort, pictured, is closed to the public as wildfires burn nearby. But the owners have stayed behind to make sure firefighters staying there are taken care of. (Anahim Lake Resort/Facebook)But it’s still a bit unusual that the Terpstras would be directed to stay in an evacuation order zone; any time officials issue these orders, the advice is to leave, immediately. BCWS doesn’t issue evacuation orders or alerts — districts or municipalities do. The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) said it only issues an evacuation order when there’s an immediate threat to life, safety or property. “Staying behind not only puts you in danger but also endangers emergency crews who may have to put themselves at risk to rescue those who refuse to leave,” CRD communications manager Kat Chatten said in an emailed statement.”Ignoring an order can also consume valuable time and resources that should be focused on fighting the fire and protecting the wider community.”The wildfire service did not respond to questions about whether its firefighters told Terpstra he could stay despite the evacuation order.The area in red shows the evacuation order boundaries as of Sept. 8, 2025. The area in orange represents those under an evacuation alert. (Cariboo Regional District)Regardless, Terpstra is more than happy to stay behind if it means he can help those who are working so hard to keep him and his community standing.He said his wife stocked their freezer and stored up on water. They have a generator for power, and he said local stores are staying open to support the firefighters in the area. But Terpstra said loved ones are concerned about his and Grace’s well-being. “My kids keep phoning. We have a lot of friends that are asking and messaging,” he said. But he isn’t worried. “In my mind basically is the thankfulness that we have for the firefighters, the organization, the people that organize where who goes and for the crews themselves. They’re all just top notch people, very dedicated, and we’re just so thankful to have them here and that we’re able to help them a little bit.”LISTEN | Ralph Terpstra stays behind during wildfire evacuations:Daybreak KamloopsOwners stay at Anahim Lake Resort despite fire evacuation orderRalph and Grace Terpstra refused to leave after an evacuation order, choosing to stay at their Chilcotin resort as wildfires burn nearby.ABOUT THE AUTHORCourtney Dickson is an award-winning journalist based in Vancouver, B.C.With files from Daybreak Kamloops
These resort owners are defying evacuation orders to care for wildland firefighters
