Evacuation Notice For Williams Lake

The City of Williams Lake has ordered its residents to leave, with the threat from surrounding wildfires now too great.

The evacuation order, signed by Mayor Walt Cobb, comes after the entire city was put on alert on July 10.

In addition to Williams Lake, the order includes several surrounding areas, including Fraser River, Polley Lake, Moffat Creek and 150 Mile House.

Evacuees were initially being urged to travel to Kamloops, but the Thompson-Nicola Regional District now says it needs to retain capacity here, so Williams Lake residents will be asked to keep driving to Vernon or Kelowna.

Those evacuees are to follow Highway 97 south to Highway 24, turn east to Little Fort, then follow Highway 5 south to Kamloops, where they can continue on to the Okanagan.

“Evacuees are going to be given information at the bottom of Highway 24 and 5, the intersection near Little Fort, and then they’re going to be sent to the Okanagan,” said Besanger.

Those leaving Williams Lake should register with the Canadian Red Cross.

There are 12 muster points within Williams Lake for people who do not have transportation and need to take a bus out of the community.

Those unable to get to the muster point are asked to call Williams Lake RCMP at 250-392-6211.