Charges pending against man who had to be rescued from Fox Creek evacuation area

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Fox Creek RCMP say charges may be pending against a man who had to be rescued from wildfires by helicopter after he allegedly tried to elude a check point.

In a news release Sunday, RCMP said a man driving large truck became stranded around 2:45 p.m. Friday after an ill-advised attempt to use a gravel road northwest of the town. The truck became stuck in the mud and was soon surrounded by wildfire.

Conditions made it unsafe for first responders to reach the man on the ground, so a forestry helicopter was called in to airlift him to safety, RCMP said. After an investigation, RCMP said they are seeking to lay charges against the man.

“Alberta RCMP continue to be deployed with specialized units to assist with public safety and crime reduction efforts during these fires,” Staff Sgt. District Advisory NCO Neal Fraser said in the release. “Incidents like these only serve to put unnecessary strain on all first responders while threatening the safety of our communities.”

Fox Creek, about 260 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, has been a hot spot for wildfires and the town of 2,000 people has been evacuated.