Wildfires Update: Major Drop In Evacuees

The number of fire evacuees in BC has gone from 45-thousand last week — to just over 20-thousand today.

And that could be lowered by thousands more this week.

Chris Duffy from Emergency Management BC says discussions continue about Williams Lake residents being allowed back in the next few days.

“Hopefully early to mid-week, but that’s driven by fire safety and the processes being in place from a re-entry prospective to ensure a safe, orderly return,” Duffy told the daily wildfires update.

More than 10-thousand Williams Lake residents were evacuated July 15.

Duffy says the evacuee numbers are “fluid,” and have been reduced by thousands by the return of people from the 100 Mile House areas, Cache Creek and Princeton.

Nineteen new fires started in BC Sunday, bringing Monday’s total to 154 fires.

None of the major fires showed significant growth Sunday despite the wind and warmer weather.

“There have been a number of new fires started by lightning, especially in the Southeast. However, initial attack crews have bee successful in knocking them down,” says Navi Saini, an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service.

Saini says Tuesday is expected to be hot, with unstable conditions in the form of thunderstorms on Wednesday.

There have been 754 fires this season burning over 373,000 hectares and costing $132 million.

There are 37-hundred fire fighters and other personnel working on the fires, including almost one thousand out of province personnel.

The Gustafson fire near 100 Mile House is 5700 hectares and 100% contained, Hanceville in the Chilcotin is 131,958 and 45%, White Lake near Williams Lake is 8107 and 10%, Wildwood is 13,215 with machine guards being built. Elephant Hill is 30% and 59,158 hectares.

There are 36 evacuation orders in place, with 40 evacuation alerts.

Photo: Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service