Cariboo-Chilcotin Politics
Discussion of the issues that affect you on a local, provincial and federal level
Friday, July 26, 2024
Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Government Meetings - Week of July 29th - August 2nd, 2024
Changes to Moose Valley Evacuation Orders/Alerts (Cariboo RD - Area "G")
Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District's Emergency Operations Centre:
The Evacuation Alert issued July 24 at 8:30 p.m. for the Moose Valley Fire Area has been lifted by the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) as well as the evacuation order in the Moose Valley Fire Area issued on July 24 at 7:30 p.m. is being downgraded to an Evacuation Alert"
Full background: https://www.cariboord.ca/en/emergency-and-protective-services/evacuation-orders-alerts-current.aspx
Cariboo Fire Centre Wildfire Update -- July 25th, 2024 at 5:45pm
Barkerville/Bowron Lakes Areas downgraded from Evac Order to Alert
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Cariboo RD EOC puts in ALERT for Tatelkuz Lake Area 2 Alert zone (Cariboo RD - Area "I")
Because of the potential danger to life and health, the Cariboo Regional District has issued an Evacuation Alert for this area"
Full background: https://www.cariboord.ca/en/news/2025-07-25-tatelkuz-lake-area-2-alert.aspx
Cariboo RD EOC rescinds Evacuation Orders for Kuyakuz/Tatelkuz Lakes
Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments pass small-scale multi-unit housing rules
From Government of BC:
Local Governments' in the Cariboo-Chilcotin are congratulated for adopting small-scale multi-unit housing rules in their local zoning bylaws including the Cities of Quesnel/Williams Lake, District of 100 Mile House and the Cariboo Regional DistrictThe District of Wells, due to active wildfires, has been granted an extension to adopt small-scale multi-unit housing rules in their local zoning bylaw
Full background: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HOUS0132-001192
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Moose Valley Fire Area Evacuation ALERT - (Cariboo RD - Area "G")
Moose Valley Fire Area Evacuation ORDER - (Cariboo RD - Area "G")
Pursuant to the BC Emergency and Disaster Management Act, an Evacuation Order has been issued by the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for 54 parcels in the Moose Valley Fire Area. This order covers 8 306 hectares.
Due to immediate danger to life safety due to fire, members of the RCMP or other groups will be expediting this action. You must leave the area IMMEDIATELY. Persons who disregard this Evacuation Order and remain in the Evacuation Order area do so at their own risk. Responders may be unable to assist anyone who remains in the Evacuation Order area.
Evacuation route: Proceed to Highway 97, then head South to 100 Mile House
Emergency Service Centre (ESS): ESS Reception Centre in the 100 Mile House Community Centre at 385 Birch Ave.
The Evacuation Order is in effect for the following area:
Evacuation Order and Map | |
---|---|
Interactive Map |
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
- You must leave the area immediately.
- Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help.
- Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and keys) only if they are immediately available.
- Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Do not shut off your natural gas.
- Close gates (latch) but do not lock.
- Do not use more vehicles to evacuate than you have to.
- Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service.
- Register with Emergency Support Services (ESS) listed above or online through the Evacuee Registration and Assistance tool.
YOU MUST LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY
Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders.
For Cariboo Regional District information, please visit Cariboo Regional District's website, Emergency Operations Centre Facebook page, Twitter / X feed, or call the CRD’s emergency information line at 1-866-759-4977 (open 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily, and this evening to 9:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Temporary Closure of Cariboo Memorial Hospital ER - Tuesday, July 23, 2024 to Wednesday, July 24th, 2024
Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.
Emergency services will be unavailable from 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23 to 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House, GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, or Bella Coola General Hospital in Bella Coola during this time.
All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.
People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
The emergency department in Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Evacuation Alert Lifted for Williams Lake River Valley Wildfire
Due to a diminished risk of danger to life safety and property, the City of Williams Lake is lifting the evacuation alert that was put in place on Sunday evening, July 21, in response to a wildfire in the Williams Lake River Valley.
The following locations are no longer under evacuation alert:
- Mackenzie Avenue from the Highway 20 corridor to the Jackpine Sawmill Access Road
- Fairview Drive
- Country Club Boulevard
- Woodland Drive area
- Westridge Drive area
- Tolko Lakeview Sawmill
Following significant progress suppressing the fire on Monday morning, July 22, by the Williams Lake Fire Department, BC Wildfire Service crews, and assisting crews, BCWS downgraded the category of the fire from ‘out of control’ to ‘held’ on Tuesday morning, July 23.
Today, the City reopened water access on Williams Lake for public and recreational use. Mackenzie Avenue was also reopened this morning, and flaggers will remain stationed at the River Valley entrance at Mackenzie Avenue and Comer Street.
A reminder the River Valley is an active emergency response area and is closed to public access. Smoke may continue to be visible to the surrounding areas. Please remain out of the area.
“There is a lot of work still happening down there,” said Ashley Williston, Emergency Operations Centre Deputy Director. “Crews are working on and monitoring hot spots, and we will be continuing to monitor the area moving forward, as well as starting to conduct danger, geotechnical and environmental assessments. We can’t stress this enough: people need to stay out of the River Valley as it is not safe at this time.”
The City would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 50-plus emergency responders, as well as service organizations, assisting agencies, volunteers and local businesses who contributed to the emergency response.
The City will continue to provide updates as they become available. For up-to-date information visit www.williamslake.ca or search the City of Williams Lake on Facebook, X and Instagram.
July 23rd, 2024 Update re: Proactive Move of Seniors from Williams Lake
Williams Lake Fire Department asks Residents to Support Christmas in July Food Drive this Tuesday, July 23
The Williams Lake Fire Department hopes the community will help them celebrate ‘Christmas in July’ this Tuesday, July 23 when they host their annual food drive for the Salvation Army Food Bank.
While a usual Christmas in July Food Drive will see WLFD members traveling door to door collecting non-perishable food items, WLFD members are now asking residents to drop off food donations at the Salvation Army Food Bank as they are currently working to assist with the emergency response to the Williams Lake River Valley wildfire.
“Our annual Christmas in July event is such a great opportunity for the Williams Lake Fire Department to do our part to support our community,” said WLFD Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services, Evan Dean. “While the food drive may look a little different this year, we are always blown away by the generosity of Williams Lake residents and we hope this will be another amazing year."
The WLFD Christmas in July Food Drive has become an annual tradition after the department learned over a decade ago the Salvation Army Food Bank was short on food supply during the summer months.
Residents are asked to drop off donations at the Salvation Army Food Bank if they would like to participate.
“The WLFD would like to thank the entire community for all of the support we’ve received over the years for this annual event, and we would like to, again, thank the community in advance for its incredible support,” Dean said. “All donations for this event go directly to the Williams Lake Salvation Army Food Bank, so it’s nice to be able to do something so impactful for one of our local partners.”
In addition to its Christmas in July Food Drive, the WLFD is also hosting Recruitment Information Sessions on Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25, both at 7 pm at the Williams Lake Fire Hall at 230 Hodgson Road. For anyone interested, application packages and more information are available on the City’s website at https://www.williamslake.ca/989/WLFD-Firefighter-Recruitment.
For more information contact the WLFD at 250-392-4321.
Enhancing Chilcotin Area Forests Through Brush Cutting
From Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation:
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR) Ltd. has been at the forefront of many initiatives to improve forest health.
One such practice showcasing its ongoing commitment to forest conservation is the implementation of brush-cutting practices – a forestry management technique that involves the removal of excess vegetation like undergrowth and small trees from a forested area.
The technique helps to enhance forest health, mitigate wildfire risk, and foster vibrant ecosystems for wildlife. Daniel Persson, silviculture superintendent with CCR, explained how brush cutting is playing a role in CCR’s efforts to rehabilitate Chilcotin’s forests. “For CCR, we prioritize the important values the forest holds for local communities and the public; social, cultural, recreational, wildlife habitat and economic. To sustain these values now and for generations, we need to manage the forest designed with these values in mind,” said Persson. Brush-cutting and spacing forested stands are essential for enhancing the diverse values forests hold.
By thinning dense stands in the Chilcotin region, specifically when they are young, CCR is attempting to increase tree growth in the retained trees as the nutrients for the site will be dispersed on fewer trees than before the treatment, thereby yielding substantial economic value for future generations while creating a more resilient stand against wildfires.
“If this thinning work doesn’t get done while stands are young, the high stem (or tree) density of the stand will impede tree growth and remain in an overly dense state with limited values and being exposed to a total loss in the event of a wildfire. The higher density stands also limit the movement and use of ungulate (hoofed mammals such as caribou, deer, elks, etc.) species,” noted Persson.
Persson further elaborated on brush cutting being like spacing out carrots in your garden: you need to remove the unhealthy, weak, and small carrots to leave room for the healthier carrots to grow. Just like carrots, when trees grow, they too compete over nutrients, water, space, and sunlight. With too many trees in an area, they end up competing over the resources and end up in a stagnant growth pattern. CCR has witnessed three notable outcomes by employing the brush-cutting practice:
1. Visual and Economic value: “Spacing the trees out can boost the growth trend back on track toward a better-looking forest and a more economical future as the trees will otherwise not get large enough to make lumber. This is especially true for large areas of densely stocked lodgepole pine stands in CCR’s operating area,” noted Persson.
2. Wildfire Risk Reduction: A crucial role brush cutting plays in maintaining forest and community health is mitigating wildfire risk. By ensuring that ladder fuels (branches and limbs) are cut, CCR reduces the risk of fires climbing up trees and igniting branches and needles. Persson highlighted, “For specific wildfire risk reduction projects, we ensure we prune smaller trees and remove fine fuels on the ground to reduce the risk of crown fires where the fire moves to the top of a tree and can more rapidly spread to others.”
3. Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Enhancement: CCR's brush-cutting initiatives also create improved habitat for wildlife. Species such as moose, deer, and caribou benefit from a more open stand structure, allowing them to move more freely without getting caught on trees and branches. “The cutting of trees also helps release feed for shorter periods of time and can boost feed availability for ungulate species during tougher winters,” added Persson.
CCR is now in the process of trying to expand its brush-cutting program so they can treat more areas. “These types of spacing treatments are crucial to do now to set the next generations up well for the future. Once the timing window to perform these treatments has passed, it will be harder to achieve the objectives of the treatment and the stand might not respond as well to it as it gets older,” said Persson. “That is why we are pushing for it now as a lot of the areas affected by the 2017 wildfire need to be spaced out, and soon!”
Monday, July 22, 2024
Significant Progress made on Williams Lake River Valley Wildfire on Monday, July 22
The City of Williams Lake is continuing to support emergency personnel battling the wildfire in the Williams Lake River Valley through its Emergency Operations Centre today (Monday, July 22).
Evan Dean, Director of Protective Services, said the Williams Lake Fire Department, in coordination with the BC Wildfire Service, as well as support from numerous other structural and wildland crews, gained significant ground containing yesterday’s fire.
“Currently, crews are working on securing perimeter lines, as well as extinguishing hot spots,” Dean said. “Out of an abundance of caution, alerts remain in effect for the Mackenzie Avenue, Woodland, Westridge and Country Club areas, due to potential spotting or reignition cause by extreme weather.”
Crews will continue to action these areas throughout the next several days. As a precautionary measure Structure Protection Crews may be deployed to the alert areas to begin working with the public on fire smarting measures.
All lake access to Williams Lake remains closed until further notice for any recreational or public use as emergency aircraft will be utilizing it for lake water. Residents are asked to please remain off the lake.
An evacuation alert means to be ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice.
Mackenzie Avenue will be be open from Highway 20 to Yorston Street. Yorston Street to Boundary Street will remain closed throughout the evening. Transport vehicles are asked to use the Highway 97 corridor to access Mackenzie Avenue North.
To contact the City's Emergency Operations Centre call 250-392-2364.
For information and updates, continue to check back at www.williamslake.ca and on the City's social media channels.
The City will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available through its Emergency Operations Centre.
Bowron Lake Park Area Evacuation ORDER (Cariboo RD - Area "C")
Pursuant to the BC Emergency and Disaster Management Act, an Evacuation Order has been issued by the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for 5 parcels in the Bowron Lake Park Area. This order covers 128,637 hectares.
Due to immediate danger to life safety due to fire, members of the RCMP or other groups will be expediting this action. You must leave the area IMMEDIATELY. Persons who disregard this Evacuation Order and remain in the Evacuation Order area do so at their own risk. Responders may be unable to assist anyone who remains in the Evacuation Order area. The evacuation route is:
Evacuation route: Bowron Lake Road to Highway 26 to Quesnel
Emergency Service Centre (ESS): Quesnel and District Arts & Recreation Centre, 500 N. Star Rd., Quesnel
The Evacuation Order is in effect for the following area:
Evacuation Order and Map | |
---|---|
Interactive Map |
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
- You must leave the area immediately.
- Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help.
- Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and keys) only if they are immediately available.
- Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Do not shut off your natural gas.
- Close gates (latch) but do not lock.
- Do not use more vehicles to evacuate than you have to.
- Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service.
- Register with Emergency Support Services (ESS) listed above or online through the Evacuee Registration and Assistance tool.
YOU MUST LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY
Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders.
For Cariboo Regional District information, please visit Cariboo Regional District's website, Emergency Operations Centre Facebook page, Twitter / X feed, or call the CRD’s emergency information line at 1-866-759-4977 (open 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily).
Browntop Mountain Area Evacuation ALERT (Cariboo RD - Area "C")
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for 316 parcels in the Browntop Mountain Area. This alert covers 107,913 hectares to the east of Likely and covering a portion of the Cariboo River Provincial Park. The community of Likely is NOT included in the alert area.
Because of the potential danger to life and health due to wildfire, the Cariboo Regional District has issued an Evacuation Alert for this area:
Evacuation Alert and Map | |
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Interactive Map |
An Evacuation Alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be required.
Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN AN ALERT IS IN EFFECT
Upon notification of an ALERT, you should be prepared for the evacuation order:
- Have a plan to transport all family members or co-workers outside of the area, should the area be brought under evacuation order.
- Make grab-and-go bags for each member of your household to keep essential items readily available for a quick departure. Pack clothing, ready-to-eat food, toiletries, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (i.e. insurance), immediate care needs for dependents and, if you choose, keepsakes (photographs, etc.).
- Ensure that any dependents or pets are prepared for departure. Gather comfort items (blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) for your dependents to make an evacuation less stressful. Gather any kennels or leashes to make transportation safe with your pets.
- Move pets and livestock to a safe area if they cannot be evacuated. Ensure water and feed are available.
- Keep the fuel tanks of personal vehicles full in case a new order is issued.
- Ensure that you have accommodation options for your family, if possible. An Evacuee Reception Centre will be made available if required. Homeowner or tenant insurance may provide greater support than ESS will be able to.
- In the event you are evacuated, do not shut off your natural gas. For more information, visit fortisbc.com/forestfires.
- Monitor reliable news sources for information on evacuation orders and locations of Reception Centres and the CRD’s channels on Facebook and cariboord.ca.
- If you are on an evacuation ALERT, or if you have been displaced from your home due to an emergency, please self-register for Emergency Support Services. You will need to sign up for the BC Services Card app to access the self-registration tool, which will reduce wait times for evacuees and assist in the referral process. https://ess.gov.bc.ca/
Further information will be issued as it becomes available. Please visit the CRD Emergency Operations Facebook as well as the CRD website at cariboord.ca/EOC. For more information contact the CRD's emergency information line at 1-866-759-4977 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily).
Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders.
All Water Access to Williams Lake Closed to Allow Emergency Aircraft Access
All water access to Williams Lake (at Scout Island) is now closed until further notice for any recreational or public use as emergency aircraft will be utilizing it for water. Residents are asked to please remain off the lake.
The City of Williams Lake is continuing to monitor last night's wildfire in the River Valley through its Emergency Operations Centre this morning.
All evacuation alerts are still in effect until further notice.
BC Wildfire Service crews, as well as the Williams Lake Fire Department and supporting emergency personnel, are working this morning in the River Valley to extinguish hot spots and secure the perimeter of the fire. Please stay away from the area.
Mackenzie Avenue will be be open from Highway 20 to Comer Street.
Comer Street to Boundary Street will remain closed throughout the day Monday, but flaggers will be on site allowing local traffic in and around the area.
Transport vehicles are asked to use the Highway 97 corridor to access Mackenzie Avenue North.
To contact the City's Emergency Operations Centre call 250-392-2364.
Anyone requiring assistance can access the City's Emergency Support Services centre located at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
For information and updates, continue to check back at www.williamslake.ca and on the City's social media channels.
The City will continue to provide updates as they become available through its Emergency Operations Centre.
Wildfire in Williams Lake River Valley
11:30pm update on Sunday July 21, 2024 --
Mackenzie Avenue will be reopened overnight from Highway 20 to Comer Street in Williams Lake. Comer Street to Boundary Street will remain closed overnight and throughout the day Monday, but flaggers will be on site allowing local traffic in and around the area. Transport vehicles are asked to use the Highway 97 corridor to access Mackenzie Avenue North. Please note properties on Mackenzie Avenue, as well as properties on the City's west side indicated in the media release below remain on alert until further notice.
As of 9:30 pm on Sunday, July 21, the City of Williams Lake has declared a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) due to a wildfire in the Williams Lake River Valley.
Earlier this evening, the City of Williams Lake activated its Emergency Operations Centre at a Level 3, and declared an evacuation alert for residents along Mackenzie Avenue. The City is now expanding the evacuation alert area to include residents in the Country Club Boulevard, Fairview Drive, Tolko’s Lakeview Mill, Woodland Drive and all Westridge Drive properties.
The SOLE allows the City to undertake emergency measures to respond to and limit any damages to health safety and property.
The City is continuing to work with all relevant agencies, including RCMP, the BC Wildfire Service, and is providing support as necessary. If you are approached by the RCMP please follow their direction.
Fire crews are on scene including support from air tankers and helicopters. Wildland crews will be working throughout the night at various hot spots throughout the Williams Lake River Valley. Please avoid the area.
The City will continue to provide updates through its EOC as they become available. Residents are also asked to conserve water at this time.
Anyone under an evacuation alert is asked to please prepare accordingly and be ready to leave quickly if required, including having a grab and go kit with essentials ready such as medications and important documents. For more information on what to include in a grab and go bag visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc
The BC Wildfire Service Fire Number for more information is: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2024&incidentNumber=C21338&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR28SmXl8_NQaozg-mmpxajmTzPIOYsz_eqzz5RSWKzAlYE7NFYRzLZBoeo_aem_dzic7oU9J7UPOMnvPwwF7g
For up to date information follow the BC Wildfire Service on Social Media at: https://www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Bowron Area Evacuation ORDER (Cariboo RD - Area "C")
Pursuant to the BC Emergency and Disaster Management Act, an Evacuation Order has been issued by the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for 33 parcels in the Bowron Area. This order covers 30,567 hectares to the east of Wells and part of the Bowron Lake Provincial Park.
Due to immediate danger to life safety due to fire, members of the RCMP or other groups will be expediting this action. You must leave the area IMMEDIATELY. Persons who disregard this Evacuation Order and remain in the Evacuation Order area do so at their own risk. Responders may be unable to assist anyone who remains in the Evacuation Order area.
Evacuation route: Bowron Lake Road to Highway 26 to Quesnel
Emergency Service Centre (ESS): Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre, 500 N. Star Road, Quesnel
The Evacuation Order is in effect for the following area:
Evacuation Order and Map | |
---|---|
Interactive Map |
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
- You must leave the area immediately.
- Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help.
- Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and keys) only if they are immediately available.
- Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Do not shut off your natural gas.
- Close gates (latch) but do not lock.
- Do not use more vehicles to evacuate than you have to.
- Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service.
- Register with Emergency Support Services (ESS) listed above or online through the Evacuee Registration and Assistance tool.
YOU MUST LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY
Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders.
For Cariboo Regional District information, please visit Cariboo Regional District's website, Emergency Operations Centre Facebook page, Twitter / X feed, or call the CRD’s emergency information line at 1-866-759-4977 (open 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily).