Critical firefighting equipment taken from B.C. wildfire area, official says

Firefighting gear helping protectstructures from a huge wildfire in British Columbia's Shuswap regionhas been repeatedly moved and removed over the last two days, says the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).

The missing gear includes at least 15 sets of equipment, which each contain multiple pumps, hosesand sprinklers, according to BCWS information officer Forrest Tower.An ATV was also stolen.

Equipment was takenmostly in the communities of Scotch Creek and Celista, where wildfires have destroyed properties and forced peoplefrom their homes.Other pieces havealso been stolen from the nearby communities of Magna Bay and Lee Creek, says Tower.

"It is not OKwhat's happening," said Tower. "It could get to the point where we're not able to work in that area."

While some pumps or sprinklers will typicallyget moved or stolen while crews are fighting fires, what firefightershave seen in the last 48 hours is "far beyond normal," he said.

In onelocation on a bridge near Scotch Creek, Tower said crews had to replace a full gear setup four times in the last two days.

WATCH: B.C. Wildfire Servicesays missing equipment could hamper ability to fight wildfires:

Critical firefighting equipment stolen, says wildfire information officer

12 months ago

Duration 1:40

Various firefighting gear has been repeatedly moved and stolen in the Shuswap region over the last two days, according to B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Forrest Tower.

"We can't effectively service that area" as a result, Tower said.

He says RCMP officers are patrolling the communities and have made arrests.

Several fires in the area of Adams Lake and Shuswap Lake have combined into the Bush Creek wildfire, which is burning over 410 square kilometres as of Monday morning.

Derek Sutherland, director of the emergency operations centre for the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, told CBC'sThe Early Editionthat he was "gobsmacked" by the thefts, and noted that the repeated thefts of sprinklers from the wooden bridge on the Squilax-Anglemont Road are particularly troubling.

"This bridge has to have that protection on it for the recovery of this area," Sutherland said.

He added that officials believe the stolen equipment is being taken so it can be used to protect private property.

"I understand people are naturally concerned about their home and they're panicked, and they're making decisions that aren't really rational. I think that's what we're seeing," Sutherland said.

RCMP confirmed officers are present in the area and are patrolling, but have not yet provided any further information regarding the BCWSreports of thefts.

Tower urgedthe public to contact local fire crew membersifthey have concerns about where equipment is placed or how it is being used.

He added that even if certain gear appears not to bein use, it may be set up for a reason but not currently running, as is the case with inactive sprinklers.

Tower saidalmost all of the wildfire service's equipment is currently deployed, and the gearbeing takennow means there will be fewer supplies available to fight wildfires later in the summer.

"We might have to stop putting new stuff up," said Tower.