Date: August 9, 2017
Dear Area F resident
Subject: Area F wildfire 2017 Update 7
Yesterday afternoon, we issued a new evacuation order for 17 properties along the Beaver Valley and Teasdale Roads due to the Prouton Lakes fire (formerly the UBC Research fire, C30870). Details of the order and the map can be found on our website. Those affected by this order, and the others already in place must leave immediately, in a calm and orderly fashion, and proceed to a safe spot. If you need Emergency Social Services to help with lodging, you should proceed to Prince George, where ESS is located in the Civic Centre as of today. You can register for Red Cross there as well, or at the Resiliency Centre in Williams Lake. You can also register for Red Cross on line or by phone.
I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but evacuation alerts and orders are the tools which enable the authorities to keep us safe. If we do not respect them, they will be rendered useless. Again, if you are on evacuation order, you must leave immediately. You do have the legal right to stay and try to defend your property, but you may not endanger minor children by keeping them with you, and you should know that you could be hindering the firefighting efforts by doing so. And, if you stay, it is not reasonable to expect to come and go freely, or that services will be maintained while the evacuation order is in place. Also, if you change your mind later and decide to leave, it may be too late. Again, the order is put in place to ensure your safety. I understand that people are inconvenienced, and even suffer hardship because of these orders, but I am very thankful that no lives have been lost to date because of these fires. For those who have left livestock behind, there is a BC Cattlemen’s rep in our EOC, or if you have had to leave pets, there is a toll-free number for the SPCA .
If you are on evacuation alert, you should remain packed and ready to leave on short notice at all times. Every time you leave your home, you should be aware you may not be allowed back, and you should take your valuables and your suitcase with you. You should also have an escape plan for your pets, in case you can’t get back to them. I know it’s getting old, but this is just as important today as it was a month ago. Likely and Horsefly are the only parts of Area F that are not on alert or order as of noon today. It is still important for all residents to remain vigilant and aware of the fires around you at all times.
The Horsefly Road, the Likely Road, and the Beaver Lake Road are all open today. The Beaver Valley Road is closed to through traffic due to the Prouton Lakes fire. The Ditch Road is open at this time, but this is subject to change at any time due to increased wildfire activity.
I highly recommend watching the daily update video each evening for detailed updates. Mike and Emily are not able to talk about each fire specifically each evening but the videos are great overviews, and they do touch on new developments each day. For those who are unable to watch because of slow internet, here are some of the highlights from last evening specific to our area:
I will try and get these updates out every few days as long as this situation continues. Thank-you for your continued support, and your patience as we find our way through this together, and please, everyone, stay safe!
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.
Phone numbers:
EOC Info line: 1-866-759-4977
Forest fire reporting: 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 on your cell
SPCA: 1-855-622-7722 weekdays 9am to 5:30 pm
Red Cross: 1-800-863-6582
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
Red Cross: www.redcross.ca
Dear Area F resident
Subject: Area F wildfire 2017 Update 7
Yesterday afternoon, we issued a new evacuation order for 17 properties along the Beaver Valley and Teasdale Roads due to the Prouton Lakes fire (formerly the UBC Research fire, C30870). Details of the order and the map can be found on our website. Those affected by this order, and the others already in place must leave immediately, in a calm and orderly fashion, and proceed to a safe spot. If you need Emergency Social Services to help with lodging, you should proceed to Prince George, where ESS is located in the Civic Centre as of today. You can register for Red Cross there as well, or at the Resiliency Centre in Williams Lake. You can also register for Red Cross on line or by phone.
I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but evacuation alerts and orders are the tools which enable the authorities to keep us safe. If we do not respect them, they will be rendered useless. Again, if you are on evacuation order, you must leave immediately. You do have the legal right to stay and try to defend your property, but you may not endanger minor children by keeping them with you, and you should know that you could be hindering the firefighting efforts by doing so. And, if you stay, it is not reasonable to expect to come and go freely, or that services will be maintained while the evacuation order is in place. Also, if you change your mind later and decide to leave, it may be too late. Again, the order is put in place to ensure your safety. I understand that people are inconvenienced, and even suffer hardship because of these orders, but I am very thankful that no lives have been lost to date because of these fires. For those who have left livestock behind, there is a BC Cattlemen’s rep in our EOC, or if you have had to leave pets, there is a toll-free number for the SPCA .
If you are on evacuation alert, you should remain packed and ready to leave on short notice at all times. Every time you leave your home, you should be aware you may not be allowed back, and you should take your valuables and your suitcase with you. You should also have an escape plan for your pets, in case you can’t get back to them. I know it’s getting old, but this is just as important today as it was a month ago. Likely and Horsefly are the only parts of Area F that are not on alert or order as of noon today. It is still important for all residents to remain vigilant and aware of the fires around you at all times.
The Horsefly Road, the Likely Road, and the Beaver Lake Road are all open today. The Beaver Valley Road is closed to through traffic due to the Prouton Lakes fire. The Ditch Road is open at this time, but this is subject to change at any time due to increased wildfire activity.
I highly recommend watching the daily update video each evening for detailed updates. Mike and Emily are not able to talk about each fire specifically each evening but the videos are great overviews, and they do touch on new developments each day. For those who are unable to watch because of slow internet, here are some of the highlights from last evening specific to our area:
- The weather forecast continues to call for hot dry weather until the weekend, when there is a chance of a cold front and a slight chance of precipitation. Unfortunately that may bring with it increased wind, and increased fire activity.
- There were no lightning strikes over the last two days.
- The Prouton Lakes fire, northeast of Big Lake, saw increased activity with gusty winds over the last few days. It breached the guard, and grew about 100 ha.s, but the contingency guard held. Crews are now working to establish contingency guards around the perimeter, and aircraft have been working on it as well. Residents of Big Lake were treated to quite a show last evening with the red and yellow scoopers from Quebec! That fire is now a Wildfire of Note (C30870) on the map, and will be regularly updated. It is now estimated at 365ha.
- Industry crews are making good progress on the Abbott Creek, and the Grain Creek fires on Quesnel Lake.
- The Spokin Lake fire remains active as there is a lot of unburnt fuel still within the perimeter, but it has not grown, and is still approximately 20% contained. Most of the activity is in the SE corner, and crews are also concentrating their effort in the northern half of that fire to enable a plan for safe re-entry for those folks who have been out of their homes for a very long time. Please be assured that residents will be allowed home again as soon as that safety can be determined.
- There is nothing new to report on the Wildwood fire. It is still considered 20% contained, and has stayed within the perimeter.
I will try and get these updates out every few days as long as this situation continues. Thank-you for your continued support, and your patience as we find our way through this together, and please, everyone, stay safe!
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.
Phone numbers:
EOC Info line: 1-866-759-4977
Forest fire reporting: 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 on your cell
SPCA: 1-855-622-7722 weekdays 9am to 5:30 pm
Red Cross: 1-800-863-6582
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
Red Cross: www.redcross.ca