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UPDATE: Search continues for Cache Creek fire chief

More than 50 search and rescue crews continue looking for Clayton Cassidy
web1_20170505-KCN-M-Clayton

Cache Creek residents continue to deal with flooding throughout the community due to snowmelt and heavy rain.

Meanwhile, rescue crews have resumed their extensive search along Cache Creek for missing Fire Chief Claytone Cassidy who was reported missing Friday morning, believed to be swept away by the creek while checking water levels.

Kamloops Search and Rescue are using drones, the SAR service dog team and swift water rescue members in the hopes of finding 59-year-old Cassidy.

More than 50 search and rescue volunteers are taking part in search efforts, including from Vernon, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge and Mission.

Cassidy was honoured with the B.C. government’s Medal of Good Citizenship for his ongoing efforts in the community. He has been a member of the Cache Creek fire department for more than 30 years.

As the search continues, local resident Lisa Dafoe questioned how the community is going to move past this tragedy.

“Clayton was doing what he loved to do. He loved to help people. He was always giving, always smiling,” she said.

Liberal leader Christy Clark visited the community Saturday, reflecting on 2015 flood that caused substantial destruction in the area.

RELATED: Liberal leader Christy Clark visits Cache Creek

“I was here in 2015 when there was a devastating flood in this community and I learned then that people are incredibly resilient here,” she said.

Community continues to battle flooding

Other emergency crews have been sandbagging areas hit by high water levels, including the local fire hall on Friday afternoon.

Flood levels have decreased, but an evacuation centre has been opened at the local community centre, in preparations for any possible changes.

In Kelowna, a local state of emergency has been declared and areas in the west are being evacuated. Vernon is also seeing increasing water levels.


@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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