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
1 comment:
Why did take 3.5 hours to declare a state of emergency? Why did it take 2 hours to get any information from our mayor? Luckily the fire crew was phenomenal and The Goat, city counsellor, wildfire BC, mla and CRD director. This could have been disastrous!!!
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