Steve Larabie's B.C. towing business devastated by fast‑moving wildfire

A fast‑moving blaze near Clinton, British Columbia, known as the Pear Lake wildfire, forced towing and auto‑repair shop owner Steve Larabie to evacuate his home while the fire roared over the ridge. Larabie managed to save only a handful of excavators; the fire destroyed his equipment, a thousand cars in his auto wrecker, and his residence, leaving him with personal items and no business assets.

The disaster prompted a province‑wide response from the towing community. Markus Richter of Lake City Towing organized donations, gift‑cards and a GoFundMe campaign to aid Larabie and his family. Towing operators from across BC contributed support, highlighting the close‑knit nature of the industry during the emergency.