Date: August 20, 2017
Dear Area F resident
I am very happy to report that yesterday, the evacuation alert was lifted for all of Area F. This means that the Forest Service is confident that we are no longer in any danger from the fires around us, except for those properties that are still under evacuation order. Communities now off alert include 150 Mile, Sugarcane, Lexington, Miocene, Rose Lake, Spokin Lake, Deep Creek, Pioneer Place, Skulow Lake, Big Lake and Beaver Valley (except for that portion under order). While this means that we can unpack and get our lives back to normal (Yay!!!), we should remember that there are still active fires around us, and that we can expect to see smoke from these fires well into the fall. The forests are still very dry despite the recent rain, and we should continue to be vigilant and report any new fires to the toll-free number at the end of this report.
Those still on evacuation order include the north and west of Quesnel Lake, Maeford Lake, and McCauley Lake north to Gavin Lake. Details of the orders and maps can be found on our website. Those affected by these orders 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. 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. Please respect these orders; they are put in place for your safety. If you do not leave, you may not be able to later if you change your mind, and you should know that you could be hindering the firefighting efforts by staying. Additionally, it is illegal to endanger minor children by keeping them with you.
There is a meeting this afternoon at 4pm in the Miocene Community Hall to provide information on services available to those returning home after evacuation, and to those whose homes and properties have been affected by wildfire. Various agencies including the Red Cross, BC Wildfire Service, Cariboo Regional District, Samaritan’s Purse, and the BC Cattlemen’s Association will be in attendance, as will our MLA Coralee Oakes. Please pass the word along to those who might benefit from this meeting. I am really looking forward to welcoming you home in person!
I have spent a lot of time in the last few days clarifying the BC Fire Service ban on access to Crown land throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre, as have several of my colleagues. It is important for me to be clear that I am not offering my opinion on the ban, or speculating as to the reasons for parts of it. I am simply providing the information for the benefit of my constituents. I understand that the message has not reached every branch of the provincial government, and I have passed that information on to a Fire Service information officer. Here again is the clarification for your information:
1) Under the ban only commercial boat launches are open. All others are closed to the public unless an exemption in the order applies. All lakes are closed to the public unless part of a commercial operation or a client of one.
2) Under the order, commercial activities and ranching activities are exempt, as well as travel to and from residences.
If further clarity is needed, we suggest that you call the Cariboo Fire Centre Information Officer at 778-799-2101. Please note that this is not a CRD ban, it is imposed by BC Forest Service and will be enforced by the province.
The Horsefly Road, the Likely Road, and the Beaver Lake Road are all open today. The Mountain House Road is open today. The Beaver Valley Road is closed to through traffic due to the Prouton Lakes fire. The 8400 Road between Likely and Wells/Barkerville is closed to through traffic due to wildfire activity at Maeford Lake.
Some recent updates on the fires around us:
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
Cariboo Fire centre: 250-989-2600
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
Link to BC Wildfire Backcountry Ban announcement: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/wildfirenews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2848
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
I am very happy to report that yesterday, the evacuation alert was lifted for all of Area F. This means that the Forest Service is confident that we are no longer in any danger from the fires around us, except for those properties that are still under evacuation order. Communities now off alert include 150 Mile, Sugarcane, Lexington, Miocene, Rose Lake, Spokin Lake, Deep Creek, Pioneer Place, Skulow Lake, Big Lake and Beaver Valley (except for that portion under order). While this means that we can unpack and get our lives back to normal (Yay!!!), we should remember that there are still active fires around us, and that we can expect to see smoke from these fires well into the fall. The forests are still very dry despite the recent rain, and we should continue to be vigilant and report any new fires to the toll-free number at the end of this report.
Those still on evacuation order include the north and west of Quesnel Lake, Maeford Lake, and McCauley Lake north to Gavin Lake. Details of the orders and maps can be found on our website. Those affected by these orders 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. 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. Please respect these orders; they are put in place for your safety. If you do not leave, you may not be able to later if you change your mind, and you should know that you could be hindering the firefighting efforts by staying. Additionally, it is illegal to endanger minor children by keeping them with you.
There is a meeting this afternoon at 4pm in the Miocene Community Hall to provide information on services available to those returning home after evacuation, and to those whose homes and properties have been affected by wildfire. Various agencies including the Red Cross, BC Wildfire Service, Cariboo Regional District, Samaritan’s Purse, and the BC Cattlemen’s Association will be in attendance, as will our MLA Coralee Oakes. Please pass the word along to those who might benefit from this meeting. I am really looking forward to welcoming you home in person!
I have spent a lot of time in the last few days clarifying the BC Fire Service ban on access to Crown land throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre, as have several of my colleagues. It is important for me to be clear that I am not offering my opinion on the ban, or speculating as to the reasons for parts of it. I am simply providing the information for the benefit of my constituents. I understand that the message has not reached every branch of the provincial government, and I have passed that information on to a Fire Service information officer. Here again is the clarification for your information:
1) Under the ban only commercial boat launches are open. All others are closed to the public unless an exemption in the order applies. All lakes are closed to the public unless part of a commercial operation or a client of one.
2) Under the order, commercial activities and ranching activities are exempt, as well as travel to and from residences.
If further clarity is needed, we suggest that you call the Cariboo Fire Centre Information Officer at 778-799-2101. Please note that this is not a CRD ban, it is imposed by BC Forest Service and will be enforced by the province.
The Horsefly Road, the Likely Road, and the Beaver Lake Road are all open today. The Mountain House Road is open today. The Beaver Valley Road is closed to through traffic due to the Prouton Lakes fire. The 8400 Road between Likely and Wells/Barkerville is closed to through traffic due to wildfire activity at Maeford Lake.
Some recent updates on the fires around us:
- The White Lake, Wildwood and Spokin Lake fires are now considered to be under control, although residents can continue to expect to see smoke from these fires as crews continue to work on hot spots inside the perimeter.
- The Prouton Lakes fire is now estimated at 770ha. Crews have established a new guard to the north, and will carry out some controlled ignition if conditions allow.
- The fires around Quesnel Lake and Likely range in size up to 4500 hectares. However there is no threat to communities at this time, other than those who are already under evacuation order. The fire behaviour observed is at the level of Rank 1, which means a slow ground fire. Industry partners are working on these fires with crews and equipment, while supported by fire behaviour specialists and aircraft where necessary.
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
Cariboo Fire centre: 250-989-2600
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
Link to BC Wildfire Backcountry Ban announcement: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/wildfirenews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2848
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