McLure fire
On July 30, 2003, a wildfire was started by a discarded cigarette in the hills behind McClure, British Columbia. The fire burned for 75 days, destroying of forest and 81 structures. The fire cost Can$31.1 million to extinguish and caused another 8.2 million dollars in property damage. 3,800 people were evacuated from the communities of McClure, Barriere and Louis Creek.
In 2005, former firefighter Michael Barre was found guilty of dropping the cigarette which started the fire. Barre was convicted in BC Provincial Court for the crime of dropping a burning substance within one kilometre of a forest. Barre faced up to a $1 million fine and three years in prison, but was instead sentenced to pay a $3,000 fine.
