Author and wilderness dweller Chris Czajkowski and debut author and homesteader Fred Reid will give a slide show and talk for their new book, Captured by Fire: Surviving British Columbia’s New Wildfire Reality (Harbour Publishing), at the Sechelt Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Their illustrated talk, which is centred around the experiences described in the book, focuses on one of British Columbia’s worst wildfire seasons on record. In 2017, wildfires dominated the headlines, with over 200 fires setting records for the largest total area burnt and the largest number of total evacuees in one fire season. In and around the towns of 100 Mile House, Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Princeton and Williams Lake, nearly 10,000 people received instructions to evacuate immediately, and some of them would be unable to return to their homes for months.
But when the evacuation order came, not everyone left. Both Czajkowski and Reid stayed behind to protect their properties, animals, and livelihoods. Living in remote areas, they both knew that their homes would be of low priority to officials when firefighting resources were deployed.
Captured by Fire alternates between these two authors’ dramatic first-person accounts of their experience throughout the summer. As lightning strikes started new fires and strong winds fanned existing ones, alerts fluctuated and even the firefighters pulled out. Both authors eventually had to decide: when is it time to go?
Their chronicle makes a fascinating and at times harrowing read for anyone interested in the ongoing wildfire problem in B.C., and what it’s like to live through it up close.
Czajkowski has written 11 other books about her nearly 30 years of wilderness living, including Snowshoes and Spotted Dick, A Mountain Year, A Wilderness Dweller’s Cookbook, Ginty’s Ghost, Harry (all Harbour Publishing) and Lonesome (TouchWood). She lives in Kleena Kleene, B.C.
Reid has worked in agriculture his whole life. He spent over 30 years farming in the Fraser Valley before moving to the Chilcotin. He contributed to the organic standard for certified organic farming in B.C. and assisted with the writing of Thailand’s organic standard. This is his first book. He lives in Anahim Lake, B.C.
The Sechelt Public Library is located at 5797 Cowrie St. and admission to the slide show and talk is free. Books will be available for sale and the authors will do a signing. The authors will also be talking to the public and selling books at the Roberts Creek Community Market on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
– Submitted
