6-year-old girl missing since Thursday near Burns Lake, BC, found safe and sound – SteinbachOnline.com

A six-year-old girl who had been missing from her community in northern British Columbia since Thursday has been found safe and sound.

Resources from across the province were deployed to search for the child, who lives in a small community near Burns Lake.

The girl, who is autistic and cannot speak, was found around 6 p.m. on Sunday evening.

A video posted on Facebook shows a woman apparently hugging the child, who is wrapped in several layers of clothing and blankets.

According to police, she was in a wooded area between her home and the First Nation's office, which had already been searched.

They say searchers believe she was likely traveling during the time she was missing, so she may not have been in the area when the initial search was conducted.

RCMP Staff Sergeant Joshua Smith says her discovery was the outcome everyone had hoped for and all searchers remain determined to bring her home safely.

The girl was last seen outside her home wearing a red and blue checkered dress, leggings and pink socks. Police did not mention a coat in their description of the girl and temperatures had dropped below 10 degrees Celsius overnight in the Burns Lake area.

By Saturday, teams from the RCMP, BC Wildfire Service and search and rescue services were assisting volunteers who had signed up for the search, according to police.

A helicopter, police dogs and drones were also used in the search for the girl.

“We are grateful for the support of all our partner agencies and volunteers who have worked day and night to achieve this result,” Smith said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 22, 2024.