The Cariboo Regional District has rescinded a portion of its evacuation order for Flat Lake to Green Lake North, replacing it with an alert instead.
The new alert affects 664 parcels, covering 17,686 hectares.
Residents are allowed to return home but are urged to watch for livestock and wildlife on the roads and to remain prepared to leave if a further evacuation order is issued.
“It is also important to note that air quality remains poor as a result of smoke from nearby fire activity,” the CRD notes.
BC Wildfire Service said the Flat Lake fire saw “moderate” fire behaviour Friday, July 23. Some 89 firefighters, 53 pieces of equipment, 23 structural protection personnel, along with and helicopters, continue to work on suppressing the blaze, now mapped at 32,194 hectares.
BCWS said a portion of the planned ignition operation was completed Friday, while heavy equipment and crews also made progress on establishing and securing control lines.
“There was moderate fire behavior yesterday with some growth in the south and minimal growth in the north,” the update said. “With the expected weather forecast for the next few days, crews can safely conduct direct attack operations.”
Crews today (Saturday, July 24) plan to complete the remaining portion of ignitions for an area north of Davis Lake, if conditions permit, while heavy equipment is working to connect existing road systems on this west side of the fire. Planned ignitions may take place in the area south of Gustafsen and Neilson Lakes if conditions are suitable.
On the east side, crews and heavy equipment continue to work on containing the fire by establishing and reinforcing guards as well as directly attacking with hose systems and water. They will continue to mop up in and around the residences in the vicinity of 83 Mile Road and Stormy Road.
Planning is also underway on the south side to link existing road systems to establish a machine guard. Work may begin Saturday. Structural protection specialists continue to support the residences and properties near the fire.
Residents returning to the area are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders: cariboord.ca/CRDEmergsignup
Further information will be issued as it becomes available. Please visit the CRD Emergency Operations Facebook as well as the CRD website at cariboord.ca/EOC. For more information contact the CRD’s emergency information line at 1-866-759-4977 (8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily).
