UPDATE:
In addition to the Cariboo Regional District’s expansion of its evacuation alert, the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako also issued an evacuation alert for the area within its regional district affected by the Tatuk and Chutanli Lake Fires on Aug. 7 at around 10 p.m.
The Chutanli Lake Fire is in the Prince George Fire Centre but very close to the border with the Cariboo Regional District, and so affecting both regional districts. The Kluskus Forest Service Road is currently closed to traffic from the 70 km to the 113 km.
The CRD’s expanded evacuation alert now affects 38 properties. It originally impacted two. The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako’s alert affects two properties, both resort-type lodges.
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| The map showing the area on evacuation alert in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, near the Chutanli Lake Fire. The area borders the Cariboo Regional District, which also has an evacuation alert in the area. |
The Chutanli Lake Fire is estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 hectares after some growth last night, fire information officer Forrest Tower tells the Observer.
“[Last night] the fire behaviour was too aggressive for firefighters to safely action it and so the equipment and crews went to a fire 20km northeast of it. It is the South of Long Lake Fire, which was around 50 hectares – they overnighted on that fire in order to try and contain it, which it sounds like they had good success with,” says Tower.
He says crews will be working both the South of Long Lake Fire and the Chutanli Lake Fire today and will be reassessing objectives on Chutanli Lake.
The BC Wildfire Service website has also updated its information on the Shag Creek Wildfire of Note in the north western-most region of the CRD. This morning, Aug. 8, the Wildfire Service said the fire was 300 hectares but crews were being pulled off this fire for safety reasons, given current and expected fire behaviour.
The Shag Creek evacuation alert affects 17 properties, says CRD communications manager Emily Epp.
“No one in these areas had subscribed to our emergency notification system, so we haven’t been able to contact them that way,” says Epp.
She says the CRD has notified contacts in the areas and the information is on the CRD website and in the media.
“There are currently no boots on the ground going door to door, but that’s definitely something we will do if the situation escalates,” she explains.
The Observer will update as we find out more.
ORIGINAL POST:
The evacuation alert for the Tatelkuz Lake area has been expanded, the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre announced tonight (Aug. 7) at 8:37 p.m.
This alert is replacing the Tatelkuz Lake Area Alert issued at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2018.
See an updated map of the affected area: https://bit.ly/2vQnltS
The Chutanli Lake Fire in the Prince George Fire Centre is 11km northeast of Tatelkuz Lake and is currently listed at 900 hectares. The BC Wildfire Service updated its webpage this morning at 11:35 a.m., saying the fire has spotted across the Kluskus Forest Service Road. Crews were working with heavy equipment to create machine guard and burn fuels on the inside of the guard to create fuel free areas where the fire cannot spread. The Chutanli Lake Fire is considered a Fire of Note.
An Evacuation Alert has also been issued by the CRD for properties in the Shag Creek area tonight (Aug. 7) at 8:52 p.m.
See a map of the affected areas: https://bit.ly/2LZmXV5
The fire west of Shag Creek in the Cariboo Fire Centre is currently listed at 300 hectares on the BC Wildfire Service website and is considered a Fire of Note. It is active and zero per cent contained. The BC Wildfire Service website says crews are challenged by continuous fuel, remoteness and available resources, as well as current and expected fire behaviour.
The Shag Creek fire is near the Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park, west of Quesnel. It was discovered Aug. 1 after being sparked by lightning.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued to prepare residents to evacuate their premises or property should it be required. Residents will be given as much notice as possible prior to evacuation but may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
The Cariboo Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre is working with the Cariboo Fire Centre to monitor the wildfire situation throughout the region. Currently there are no other wildfires threatening properties in the Cariboo Regional District. The EOC is prepared to respond should the situation change.
Further information will be issued as it becomes available. Please visit the CRD Emergency Operations Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations as well as the CRD website at www.cariboord.ca/emergency. For more information, contact the CRD’s public information line at 1-866-759-4977 (8:00am – 4:30 pm daily).
The BC Wildfire Service will provide wildfire updates at www.bcwildfire.ca, facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo and www.twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued to prepare residents to evacuate their premises or property should it be required. Residents will be given as much notice as possible prior to evacuation but may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
The Cariboo Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre is working with the Prince George Fire Centre and the Cariboo Fire Centre to monitor the wildfire situation throughout the region. Currently there are no other wildfires threatening properties in the Cariboo Regional District. The EOC is prepared to respond should the situation change.
The CRD says further information will be issued as it becomes available. Visit the CRD Emergency Operations Facebook page as well as the CRD website, or contact the CRD’s public information line at 1-866-759-4977 (8:00am – 4:30 pm daily).
The BC Wildfire Service will provide wildfire updates at www.bcwildfire.ca, www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo and www.twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo.
Residents are strongly encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612292#/signup
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN AN ALERT IS IN EFFECT
Upon notification of an ALERT, you should be prepared for an evacuation order by:
Having a plan to transport all family members or co-workers outside of the area, should the area be brought under evacuation order.
keeping essential items readily available for a quick departure; including medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (i.e. insurance), immediate care needs for dependents and, if you choose, keepsakes (photographs, etc).
Ensuring that any dependents are prepared for departure.
Moving pets and livestock to a safe area.
Ensuring that you have accommodation options for your family, if possible. A Reception Centre will be made available if required.
Monitoring reliable news sources for information on evacuation orders and locations of Reception Centres and the CRD’s channels on Facebook and cariboord.ca.
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