The mayor of Badger says evacuation orders are issued not just to ensure the safety of residents, but the safety of first responders as well.

A wildfire burning near Badger is no longer considered to be a risk to the town, and an evacuation order that was issued last week, was lifted on Friday, allowing residents to return to their homes.

Mayor Dennis Butt says unfortunately, not all residents paid heed to orders to leave.

He told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that evacuation orders are issued for a variety of reasons.

There were a small number of people who chose not to leave, says Butt, “but we had constant contact with these individuals.” He says evacuation orders are made in the interest of safety. Not just for residents, but first responders as well. “If we had to go back and do a second sweep, a second evacuation, that puts everyone in harm’s way for no apparent reason.”