5:45 p.m.: An evacuation order has been issued for the area north of McCauley Lake.
The order, which is being issued due to the UBC Research Forest wildfire, affects an area 40 kilometres northeast of Williams Lake. Emergency personnel will be going around and escorting residents from their homes. Evacuees are asked to register at the emergency social services table in the Resiliency Centre in Williams Lake at Boitanio Mall (850 Oliver Street) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Anyone who needs group lodging will need to continue onto Prince George emergency reception centre. Currently, the centre is located at the College of New Caledonia (3330 22 Ave) but it is moving to the Prince George Civic Centre (808 Canada Games Way) as of Wednesday, Aug. 9.
People under an evacuation order are asked to:
- You must leave the area immediately.
- Register for ESS as explained above.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers.
- Close gates (latch) but do not lock.
- Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help.
- Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and Keys) only if they are immediately available. Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
- Do not use more vehicles then you have to.
- Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service.
Map of McCauley Lake evacuation order:
North of McCauley Lake Area Evacuation Order by Katya Slepian on Scribd
2:30 p.m.
Evacuation orders and alerts remain in place for much of the Cariboo, despite several being downgraded near Williams Lake.
Areas that have been reduced from evacuation orders to alerts include a portion of properties around the south half of Soda Creek Road including Frizzi Road, portions of the East side of Likely Road, a portion of properties along the Highway 97 corridor north of the Wildwood area.
An evacuation order in West Chilcotin was expanded Monday night to include Satah Mountain and the P-Road Area. The evacuation route was along Hwy. 20 to Williams Lake. Residents within the evacuation zone had to leave immediately and register at the emergency social services table in the Resiliency Centre in Williams Lake at Boitanio Mall. Before leaving residents were told to shut all windows and doors, turn off all appliances other than fridges and freezers and take all pets, critical medicine and important documents with them. Helping neighbours was encouraged. Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb described the conditions in Williams Lake as “smoky” Monday afternoon. “No growth on the [fires] right around the city,” said Cobb in a Facebook post. “The Comer Trailer court area has been allowed back home so that gives me a little more comfort on that fire front. Very hot today 35 degrees Celsius and has not cooled off much yet.”
Mike McCulley of the BC Wildfire Service said winds on the eastern side of the Fraser River are causing “increased fire activity” in the region.
READ: Williams Lake man fined for setting off fireworks as wildfires continue to burn: RCMP
An evacuation alert was issued for the Chantslar Lake Forest Service Road area on Monday. An evacuation alert remains in place for the northwestern side of Quesnel Lake and the Anahim Lake Area and Nimpo Lake Area.
The north arm of Quesnel Lake, the area south of Hwy. 20 (to the southern regional district border and east to the Fraser River) and Kleena Kleene Area #2 remains under an evacuation order.
For more information, visit the Cariboo Regional District’s website.