Date: August 6, 2017
Dear Area F resident,
Since my last e-mail update July 14, I evacuated to Prince George, and only returned home a few days ago. While I was away, I did my best to keep everyone updated by Facebook, but this is the first chance I have had to do an e-mail update. During my time away, I experienced firsthand the emotions and difficulties evacuees undergo, and I was able to help some people through those. I need to thank some people whose assistance was invaluable in that:
And to all of the volunteer firefighters in each community, we now know firsthand the depths of your commitment! Words cannot express our gratitude for your service! You are our heroes, and I know I speak for us all when I say thank-you from the bottom of my heart!
Most of us are back home now, and as communities slowly return to normal, it is important to remember that most of us are still under evacuation alert, and that there are still some evacuation orders in place. Alerts and orders are the tools which the authorities have to keep us safe and it is imperative that we respect them. Areas still under alert include Lexington and North Lakeside, 150 Mile House, Sugarcane, Rose Lake/Miocene, Skulow Lake subdivision, Big Lake and Beaver Valley. If you are under alert, you should remain packed and ready to go at very short notice. Even if you are not, (Likely and Horsefly are not) you should remain vigilant and aware of the fires around you. Areas still under evacuation order include Spokin Lake, Kengin Road, Deep Creek, Pioneer Place, part of Skulow Lake, and there was a new order yesterday for an area along the North Arm of Quesnel Lake. For those still evacuated, I know it’s a long haul, but please be assured that crews are doing their very best to get you home as quickly as possible. For those who did not evacuate, you must expect to be on your own until the order is lifted. You have the right to stay and defend your property, but it is not reasonable to expect that you will receive services and supplies, or that you will be allowed to travel freely back and forth. For those who have lost their homes, words cannot adequately express my condolences to you and your families.
Emotions are still very close to the surface, and the most contentious issue right now, in Big Lake and Likely, is the road to town. The Likely Road is closed between the “Y” and Skulow Lake due to the evacuation order. This is reviewed on a daily basis, and it will reopen as soon as it is safe. Many of us don’t understand the reasoning behind this, or necessarily agree with it. To complicate matters, there have been abuses of permits, and issues with enforcement, resulting in perceptions of unfairness. I have been assured that these abuses will stop now. I do not make the decisions around the boundaries of the evacuation order zones, but I absolutely support them. We must respect these zones and let the firefighters do their job. As I said, these are the tools which ensure our safety. Meanwhile, the road to town is the Beaver Lake road to McLeese Lake, or the Beaver Valley road to Horsefly. The Beaver Lake road is in appalling condition, so I am recommending the Beaver Valley route. We have asked for grading and dust control on the Beaver Lake and Ridge Roads. Please drive with your headlights on, and watch for cattle and livestock on these roads.
The Emergency Operations Centre Communications Officer, together with the BC Fire Service Information Officer is posting video updates on a daily basis. These are posted on the Cariboo Regional District Youtube channel (link below). For those whose internet connection is not fast enough for videos, here are some highlights from last evening of interest to our area:
Finally, to those who have sent me messages of support throughout this very trying time, I can’t thank you enough! Your kind words have always come just at the right time, and have meant the world to me. Emotions are very close to the surface for all of us, and I am no different. For those who have been less than kind in their frustration, I do understand, and continue to ask for your patience as we work our way through this together.
Sincerely,
Joan Sorley
Director, Cariboo Regional District Area "F"
PO Box 147
Big Lake Ranch, BC V0L 1G0
250-243-2261, e-mail: [email protected]
Please pass along this report to anyone you feel may be interested. If you would like to be removed from my distribution list, please let me know.
Important links
To register for updates: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612292#/login
Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre: http://cariboord.ca/services/emergency-and-protective-services/emergency-operations-centre-eoc
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations/
Drive BC for highway information: http://www.drivebc.ca/#listView
BC Wildfire service interactive map: http://governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a1e7b1ecb1514974a9ca00bdbfffa3b1&mobileBreakPoint=300
BC Parks: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
Link to daily video update: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6Y8zWI_hHJXMgSIiJB-9w
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Sorley-Cariboo-Regional-District-Director-Area-F
Dear Area F resident,
Since my last e-mail update July 14, I evacuated to Prince George, and only returned home a few days ago. While I was away, I did my best to keep everyone updated by Facebook, but this is the first chance I have had to do an e-mail update. During my time away, I experienced firsthand the emotions and difficulties evacuees undergo, and I was able to help some people through those. I need to thank some people whose assistance was invaluable in that:
- Ashley Beauchamp and her dad, Jerome, evacuees themselves, who volunteered to help navigate some of the red tape, and then posted easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions. Ashley is also a whiz on Facebook, and her assistance was invaluable.
- Oliver Ray and Kaila Neilson, of NCLGA, who magically got me some business cards, made sure I was fed, and introduced me to the right people in the EOC.
- Heather and the library staff at CNC, who made a small conference room available for us to use as an office for the duration.
- My sister-in-law, Sharon, who cooked a roast beef dinner for an evacuee family living out of their vehicles in the parking lot, and my brother, Richard, together with his neighbour, who fixed an evacuee’s truck during a very stressful time. Richard and Sharon also made sure that my dog and I were well looked after.
- All of the staff and volunteers in the EOC, and at the reception centres at CNC and at UNBC. Thank-you, Prince George!
And to all of the volunteer firefighters in each community, we now know firsthand the depths of your commitment! Words cannot express our gratitude for your service! You are our heroes, and I know I speak for us all when I say thank-you from the bottom of my heart!
Most of us are back home now, and as communities slowly return to normal, it is important to remember that most of us are still under evacuation alert, and that there are still some evacuation orders in place. Alerts and orders are the tools which the authorities have to keep us safe and it is imperative that we respect them. Areas still under alert include Lexington and North Lakeside, 150 Mile House, Sugarcane, Rose Lake/Miocene, Skulow Lake subdivision, Big Lake and Beaver Valley. If you are under alert, you should remain packed and ready to go at very short notice. Even if you are not, (Likely and Horsefly are not) you should remain vigilant and aware of the fires around you. Areas still under evacuation order include Spokin Lake, Kengin Road, Deep Creek, Pioneer Place, part of Skulow Lake, and there was a new order yesterday for an area along the North Arm of Quesnel Lake. For those still evacuated, I know it’s a long haul, but please be assured that crews are doing their very best to get you home as quickly as possible. For those who did not evacuate, you must expect to be on your own until the order is lifted. You have the right to stay and defend your property, but it is not reasonable to expect that you will receive services and supplies, or that you will be allowed to travel freely back and forth. For those who have lost their homes, words cannot adequately express my condolences to you and your families.
Emotions are still very close to the surface, and the most contentious issue right now, in Big Lake and Likely, is the road to town. The Likely Road is closed between the “Y” and Skulow Lake due to the evacuation order. This is reviewed on a daily basis, and it will reopen as soon as it is safe. Many of us don’t understand the reasoning behind this, or necessarily agree with it. To complicate matters, there have been abuses of permits, and issues with enforcement, resulting in perceptions of unfairness. I have been assured that these abuses will stop now. I do not make the decisions around the boundaries of the evacuation order zones, but I absolutely support them. We must respect these zones and let the firefighters do their job. As I said, these are the tools which ensure our safety. Meanwhile, the road to town is the Beaver Lake road to McLeese Lake, or the Beaver Valley road to Horsefly. The Beaver Lake road is in appalling condition, so I am recommending the Beaver Valley route. We have asked for grading and dust control on the Beaver Lake and Ridge Roads. Please drive with your headlights on, and watch for cattle and livestock on these roads.
The Emergency Operations Centre Communications Officer, together with the BC Fire Service Information Officer is posting video updates on a daily basis. These are posted on the Cariboo Regional District Youtube channel (link below). For those whose internet connection is not fast enough for videos, here are some highlights from last evening of interest to our area:
- Weather forecast for the weekend is continued hot with warmer nights. Relative humidity is expected to increase, but there is a chance of dry lightning for today.
- All of the fires around Williams Lake were held inside the perimeters yesterday. The Wildwood fire is now 20% contained, as is the Spokin Lake fire.
- Drone technology is being used on the east flank of the Wildwood fire for infrared scanning to identify hot spots.
- The 4 scooper planes from Quebec plan to continue to operate out of Big Lake all weekend. It is important that we stay off the lake so they can do their job.
- Crews and equipment are working on the Grain Creek fire (100 ha), and the Abbott Creek fire (4 ha) on Quesnel Lake. These are not new fires, but have become more active in recent days.
Finally, to those who have sent me messages of support throughout this very trying time, I can’t thank you enough! Your kind words have always come just at the right time, and have meant the world to me. Emotions are very close to the surface for all of us, and I am no different. For those who have been less than kind in their frustration, I do understand, and continue to ask for your patience as we work our way through this together.
Sincerely,
Joan Sorley
Director, Cariboo Regional District Area "F"
PO Box 147
Big Lake Ranch, BC V0L 1G0
250-243-2261, e-mail: [email protected]
Please pass along this report to anyone you feel may be interested. If you would like to be removed from my distribution list, please let me know.
Important links
To register for updates: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612292#/login
Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre: http://cariboord.ca/services/emergency-and-protective-services/emergency-operations-centre-eoc
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations/
Drive BC for highway information: http://www.drivebc.ca/#listView
BC Wildfire service interactive map: http://governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a1e7b1ecb1514974a9ca00bdbfffa3b1&mobileBreakPoint=300
BC Parks: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
Link to daily video update: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6Y8zWI_hHJXMgSIiJB-9w
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Sorley-Cariboo-Regional-District-Director-Area-F