B.C. wildfires: Ponderosa festival organizers ask ticketholders to forego refund

Organizers forced to cancel the Ponderosa music festival because of the Rock Creek wildfire are asking ticketholders to consider foregoing their refund.

Kia Zahrabi and his partner Kris Hargrave had been planning the Ponderosa music festival in Rock Creek, B.C., all year. But a week before the event, a ferocious wildfire hit the small Boundary community destroying more than two dozen homes.

"We were looking at anything we could do, but in the end our hands were tied and we weren't in the position to put people's lives at risk," said Zahrabi.

But, he said, pulling the plug on the festival at the last minute was a big financial hit.

So he and Hargrave are asking people who bought tickets to consider donating their refund back to them.

"If we were to give everybody a refund this year, the chances of us coming back are slim to none, because obviously there is the bulk of the costs we could not recoup," said Zahrabi.

So far, he says, reaction has been mixed — with some people still wanting a refund, others agreeing to help Ponderosa.

Zahrabi says they will pay anyone who wants their money back, but they are hoping their plea pays off.

"We are relying on our community right now and our friends and family and everybody to help support Ponderosa and keep it alive."