B.C. man fined $3,000 for starting giant wildfire

A former firefighter has been fined $3,000 for starting the B.C. wildfire that wiped out dozens of homes and forced thousands of people to flee communities north of Kamloops in 2003.

Provincial court Judge William Sundhu sentenced Mike Barre, 52, in a Kamloops courthouse on Tuesday.

Barre was convicted earlier in the month of one count of dropping a burning substance – a cigarette – within one kilometre of a forest, which is an offence under the Forest Practices Code.

He could have been sentenced to a $1-million fine and as much as three years in prison.

The Crown had said it was prosecuting Barre to send a message to all smokers to be more careful.

In passing sentence, Sundhu said he was satisfied that had been achieved, given all the publicity the case has received.

Barre told court on Tuesday that the past 2½ years have been "totally devastating" for him and his family.

Barre, a longtime chain smoker, had tossed away a cigarette near his home north of Kamloops – which ignited grass and brush.

He tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire, and then ran to warn his neighbours.

The fire levelled 73 houses and forced 8,500 people to flee from McLure, Barriere and other communities.

The McLure-Barriere fire eventually covered more than 260 square kilometres and cost the province more than $31 million to put out.

In the process, it also burned down the Tolko sawmill in Louis Creek, which was the community's major employer – providing jobs for about 200 people.

Despite the damage, many area residents rallied in support of Barre, saying the accident could have happened to anyone and insisting he did everything he could to try to stop the fire.

About 1,400 people had signed a petition urging the Crown to stay the charge.