A communications manager for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen kept his livestream camera rolling while evacuating his family from a wildfire.

The decision to continue broadcasting during a personal crisis highlights the critical role of real-time information in disaster management. In rapidly evolving fire situations, immediate updates can dictate the speed and safety of community evacuations.

Erick Thompson, the senior manager of communications and information officer, began the evacuation process around 1:40 a.m. [1] on Saturday. As the Bald Range wildfire [2] approached Summerland, British Columbia, Thompson used his mobile device to provide a continuous feed of the situation to the public.

Thompson said he felt a duty to keep the community informed. By maintaining the livestream, he aimed to provide thousands of anxious residents [3] with the data needed to make safer decisions regarding their own evacuations. The fire approached the area from the Bald Range, creating a volatile environment for those remaining in the South Okanagan region.

While fleeing his home with his family, Thompson balanced his role as a public official with his responsibilities as a parent. The broadcast provided a raw look at the urgency of the evacuation, a perspective rarely seen in official government communications.

Local reports from Penticton indicate that the information was distributed during a period of high tension. The use of livestreaming allowed the regional district to bypass traditional communication delays, offering a direct window into the fire's progress as it threatened residential areas in Summerland.

“Erick Thompson kept his livestream camera rolling while evacuating his family from a wildfire.”

This incident underscores a shift toward decentralized, real-time crisis communication. By using personal livestreams during an active disaster, public information officers can reduce the gap between event occurrence and public notification, though it also blurs the line between professional duty and personal safety during emergency evacuations.