Williams Lake business owners stay behind to help fire crews
Appreciation fuels restaurant and gas station owners
Vic Sharman’s sense of appreciation and responsibility for firefighters made him stay behind when Williams Lake was evacuated on the evening of July 15.
“These guys are saving our town,” Sharman said. “I thought we were responsible to make sure that they got good coffee and some food.”
Sharman, his wife, Lyda and son Alek, along with two staff and two volunteers are currently operating the Williams Lake Tim Horton’s sixteen hours a day, helping keep work crews fed and watered as they work physically demanding jobs protecting Williams Lake from nearby fires. Supplies are able to get in, allowing the restaurant to stay open.
“It’s rewarding to help someone” says Lyda Sharman. “They are so hungry when they get off shift.”
Nearby, CJ’s Southwestern Grill restaurant owner Cathie Rossignol and helpers have prepared up to 1,600 meals a day for people on the front lines. In addition to feeding fire departments and the Emergency Operations Centre, Rossignol keeps the restaurant doors open for walk ins. She expects things will slow down, as camps are being set up for the fire departments.
Fuel and other essentials are being allowed through closed highways.
Canwest Propane/Sun Valley Petroleum in Williams Lake remains open. “Fire, police and ambulance services are doing a great job.” says owner Scott Nelson. “It’s important to help the community and provide the goods and service needed.”
According to Nelson, other businesses in Williams Lake still operating to support fire efforts include Tasco Supplies and Chuck’s Auto Supply.
“Our tourism industry, residents and the countless helpers have shown one thing – we stand together. We continue to hear daily examples of extreme hospitality from individuals and businesses who have thrown open their doors without hesitation to help one another,” said Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association board chair Andre Kuerbis.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism encourages visitors to continue to ‘Know Before you Go’ by checking official sources of information and speaking with the tourism businesses directly. Highway 1 through Cache Creek is now open to regular traffic, with residents and tourism operators able to safely return home and Highway 97 is open from the north to Quesnel, Barkerville and Likely where the lush interior Rainforest is awaiting you.
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Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association is an industry-led not-for-profit Destination Management Organization that works collaboratively with stakeholders to develop and promote a responsible tourism industry in the Cariboo, Chilcotin and Central Coast of British Columbia. For more information about the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism region, please visit: www.landwithoutlimits.com
Media contacts:
Amy Thacker, CEO
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association
Andre Kuerbis, Board Chair
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association
Cell: 250-217-6438