The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District is warning about the spread of misinformation online.

Spokesperson Tracy Hughes says the regional district is aware of emails and social media posts claiming to be from the CSRD that say people don’t need permits to go into areas of the North Shuswap under evacuation order.

“This information is completely false,” Hughes said. “Permits are required to get into any Evacuation Order Area.”

Earlier in the day, the CSRD also said it is not issuing permits at this time due to “safety concerns and active fire conditions.”

“The CSRD has been working directly with individuals who need to access to the Order Area,” it said. “Please do not fill out the Temporary Access Permit Form unless you have been directed to by a [Shuswap Emergency Program] EOC staff member.”

“We are actively working to address the safety situation and when it is safe to do so, we will provide updates for re-entry permits.

Speaking during a CSRD news conference Tuesday afternoon, Hughes also said it is important that people get accurate information about an ever changing situation.

“What we really need is we need accurate information going out. We need to check that information and our commitment is to keep going the best job that we can to provide you the most accurate information information in the most timely way,” she said.

“So I would really encourage people to head directly to our platform on facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter rather than relying on necessarily shares or reshares or over shares from others. Its critically important.”

Hughes also says the CSRD will be there to support residents for as long as needed, noting they are aware of some frustrations with Alertable – the system it used to let people keep people updated about critical events like fires.

“We here at the CSRD and the Shuswap Emergency Program, we live here. We care about you. We care about the people in this area,” Hughes said.

“You’re the people we see in the coffee shops. You’re the people who we see at the grocery store, and we are committed to do the very best that we can to communicate with you as effectively as possible.”

CSRD also urging residents to leave North Shuswap areas under evacuation order

The CSRD also says the message to residents right now is to leave areas in the North Shuswap under evacuation order. It says facilitators are available to help people who need to evacuate via the Seymour Arm route.

“[We understand] that many residents want to remain in the Evacuation Order area to protect their properties. We must stress that this decision puts both you and our tireless responders at high risk and directly conflicts with the issued Evacuation Order,” the CSRD said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

“Interfering with BC Wildfire crews not only endangers your safety but also hinders their vital work. Please be aware that if their operations are disrupted, they may have no choice but to relocate to a safer area.”

Asked if they knew how many people have stayed behind in the North Shuswap, and where they might be, EOC Director, Derek Sutherland said they did not have that information.

“We don’t have any specific knowledge on who stayed behind to defend and who hasn’t and who just evacuated so,” he said Tuesday. “I’m sorry, I don’t have that answer.”

In its statement Monday, the CSRD said it is working with the BC RCMP, the BC Wildfire Service, and the North Shuswap community in general to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.

“During these trying times, we rely on the support of our community and the public,” it said. “If you choose to remain on your private property and witness any criminal activity, we urge you to report it immediately to the RCMP.”

During Tuesday’s news conference, Forrest Tower, with the BC Wildfire Service said he understands the frustration from locals in the North Shuswap, who say the RCMP have blocked deliveries of supplies like food, fuel, and water.

“People that have evacuated have trusted the local governments, and placed a lot of trust in them to ensure that when they come back to their house, their stuff is still there. And we have to maintain some order in these areas,” Tower said.

“We are all humans trying to work towards the same goal. We are trying to get people back into their properties and houses to see what is there. Every single person that wears a uniform that I’m in, they’re working tirelessly to get people back into the areas where they are.”

As he urged people to leave, Sutherland also told community members there are “enough resources on the fire to actively engage whatever comes at them.”

“If there aren’t enough resources, we have resources waiting to go into the communities to deal with this,” he said. “So community members can feel safe and secure that there are firefighters to deal with any issues that arise on their property if and when they choose to evacuate.”

People hoping to apply for temporary permits- when it becomes available again – to access areas in the North Shuswap under evacuation order can do so here.