Photo: RCMP

UPDATE: 11 a.m. Tuesday

Midway RCMP report missing ATVer Matthew Straume has made contact with a family member and is safe.

Police issued a missing person release Monday after fears were raised for Straume's safety. He had last been seen heading into the bush on forest service roads on Thursday, near the area of the Rock Creek wildfire.

ORIGINAL

A man who may have been riding his ATV on back roads near Rock Creek in the hours before a destructive wildfire exploded on Thursday has not been seen in days.

Matthew Straume, 39, was last seen about 10:30 a.m. Thursday near Greenwood.

He had been planning to take his ATV from Greenwood to Beaverdell using forest service roads, however, he did not arrive at his destination.

Straume is described as:

• Five feet eight inches tall
• 170 pounds
• stubble on his face
• short, curly brown hair

The ATV is red, but the make or model is unknown.

If anyone sees or hears from Straume, they are asked to contact Midway RCMP at 250-449-2244.