Immediate Evacuation Order for City of Williams Lake and surrounding areas - July 15/17, IMMEDIATE RELEASE, EOC-17-21

Williams Lake, B.C. - An Evacuation Order has been issued for Williams Lake and the following areas in the Cariboo Regional District:

• All areas east of the Fraser River from the existing evacuation order at Soda Creek to 9.0 km south of the Sheep Creek Bridge, including English Road

• Directly east to the southern end of Chimney Lake, continuing east to Wright Station Road at the north end of Lac La Hache

• All areas west of Highway 97 from Wright Station Road to the Williams Lake City limits, north along Highway 97, including all fringe areas of the City of Williams Lake including the areas of Fox Mountain, Pine Valley, Commodore Crescent, Glendale, Wildwood, Bull Mountain and Deep Creek not already evacuated, to the exiting evacuation order area at Soda Creek.

This means that all individuals in the City and the above areas must evacuate immediately.

Follow Highway 97 South to Highway 24 (South of 100 Mile House); follow Highway 24 to Little Fort; turn right onto Highway 5 at Little Fort and continue to Kamloops and register at the ESS Centre located at Thompson Rivers University located at 805 TRU Way, in Kamloops. If you have questions about locating an ESS Reception Centre please call 1-800-585-9559.

The City of Williams Lake has activated 12 zones within its boundaries, each of which has a muster point. There are no muster points in any of the surrounding areas. Residents in these areas who are unable to self-evacuate must make their way to a muster point in the City immediately as buses departing the City cannot wait indefinitely. If residents are unable to get to a muster point, please call the RCMP at 250-392-6211 immediately. If you do not call, there is no way to know that you require assistance. If you have already self-identified to the EOC and you are unable to travel to a muster point, please shelter in place until help arrives.

Evacuation Muster Zone Maps and other emergency information are available on the City’s website at http://www.williamslake.ca/253/Evacuation-Map

When you evacuate:

• Turn off water, gas and electricity, if time

• Take an emergency survival kit with you (eg. battery powered radio, flashlight, water, food, warm clothing)

• Take identification and prescription medicine for your family (and pets)

• Listen to the radio and follow instructions from local emergency officials

• Lock up your home

• Follow the specified routes. Don’t take shortcuts as you could wind up in blocked or dangerous areas

• If you have time, leave a note telling others where you are going.

For updated information relating to the City of Williams Lake, please visit williamslake.ca or facebook.com/CityWilliamsLake or @CityWL or 250-392-2364.

For updated information relating to the CRD, please visit cariboord.ca or the facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations or @CaribooRD or 1-866-759-4977.

Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text or call regarding updates Evacuation Alerts and Orders: member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612292#/signup

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Media Contacts:

Cariboo Regional District, Emergency Operations Centre

Emily Epp, Manager of Communications
250-398-0842 eoccommunications@cariboord.ca

City of Williams Lake, Emergency Operations Centre

Geoff Paynton, Acting Information Officer
250-392-2364 gpaynton@williamslake.ca

Alert unchanged, but residents need to be prepared - July 14/17, 7:00 PM, EOC-17-20

Williams Lake, B.C. – The evacuation alert for the City of Williams Lake and surrounding areas remains in place and residents are encouraged to remain prepared. The City of Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and Cariboo Fire Centre are closely monitoring the situation in the area. 

As there is still potential for a wind event over the weekend, we encourage residents on evacuation alert to be prepared. 

It is important to understand the evacuation plan for the area in the event that the alert was to change to an order. If the CRD and City of Williams Lake were to issue an evacuation order, it would contain instructions regarding evacuation routes as well as the location of the Emergency Social Services Reception Centre. 

For City of Williams Lake residents who are not able to self-evacuate, the City would activate 12 zones each with its own muster point. Buses would wait at these muster points for as long as possible before transporting people out of the evacuation area. If an order was issued, residents would need to make their way as quickly as possible to a muster point in order to secure a place on a bus before it departs.

City residents who are unable to make their way to a muster point must call the City’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) immediately for assistance. The numbers are 250-392-2364 and 250-392-2365. If you do not self-identify, the City has no way to know that you require assistance.

Evacuation Muster Zone Maps and other emergency information is available on the City website at  williamslake.ca/253/Evacuation-Map or may be picked up in-person at the City’s EOC located at the main Fire Hall in Williams Lake on South Lakeside Drive. 

For evacuation alert information for the City of Williams Lake, specifically, please visit williamslake.ca or facebook.com/CityWilliamsLake or @CityWL or 250-392-2364.

For Cariboo Regional District residents in the areas surrounding Williams Lake who are unable to self-evacuate, please make alternative transportation arrangements immediately.

Updates about the evacuation alert for the City of Williams Lake and surrounding areas will only be sent if there is a significant change in the situation. You are encouraged to monitor local radio stations as well as the CRD and City of Williams Lake channels.

For evacuation alert information for the Cariboo Regional District, generally, please visit cariboord.ca or facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations or @CaribooRD or 1-866-759-4977.

All CRD residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text or call regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders: member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612292#/signup 

Evacuation Alert Information

How can I prepare?

If you have to evacuate, please remember to register with the local emergency reception centre so you can be contacted or reunited with your family and loved ones. Also, be sure to:

• Listen to the radio and follow instructions from local emergency officials

• Take an emergency survival kit with you

• Ensure you take prescription medicine and all important documents

• Shut off water and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so and only if you have sufficient time

• Unplug all electrical household items

• Leave natural gas service 'on' unless local officials advise you otherwise

• Take your pets with you and make arrangements to move pets and livestock to a safe area 

• Fuel your car before the evacuation and pack water and non-perishable food

• Wear clothes and shoes appropriate to conditions

• Secure your home and lock the doors

• Follow the routes specified by emergency officials and don’t take shortcuts as a shortcut could take you to a blocked or dangerous area. Stay away from downed power lines

• Contact your out-of-area emergency contact (identified in your personal emergency plan) to let them know what has happened, that you are ok, where you are going and when you expect to arrive.

A “Time to Leave” evacuation checklist is available at http://bit.ly/2tVk3nW

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Media Contacts:

Cariboo Regional District, Emergency Operations Centre

Emily Epp, Manager of Communications
250-398-0842 eoccommunications@cariboord.ca

City of Williams Lake, Emergency Operations Centre

Geoff Paynton, Acting Information Officer
250-392-2364 gpaynton@williamslake.ca

Fire activity and evacuation alert in Williams Lake and areas unchanged - July 13/17, 5:30 PM, EOC-17-18

Williams Lake, B.C. – As reported this morning, the wind event forecasted to occur on Wednesday did not develop as expected. However, there is a potential that the wind event will occur on Saturday night instead. If it does, it will cause an increase in fire behaviour on active fires. The weather forecast for the Cariboo Fire Centre for today and tomorrow predicts a mix of sun and cloud, with highs in the low to mid-twenties and the potential for isolated showers. Any showers that develop will not bring enough rain to decrease the fire activity on fires. Winds are expected to be gusty. Today, there is a risk of thundershowers in the northeastern region of the fire centre.  

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and the City of Williams Lake continue to monitor fire activity in the area. The evacuation alert for the City of Williams Lake and surrounding areas remains in place. 

Should this status change, the public will be notified immediately through all means possible. Everyone is encouraged to monitor local radio stations as well as the CRD and City of Williams Lake channels.

To find Evacuation Alert information for the City of Williams Lake, visit their website at williamslake.ca, Facebook page at facebook.com/CityWilliamsLake, Twitter @CityWL or contact 250-392-2364. 

To find Evacuation Alert information for the Cariboo Regional District, visit the CRD’s website at cariboord.ca, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations or on Twitter @CaribooRD. You can also contact the Public Information Line at 1-866-759-4977.

Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System by visiting the Cariboo Regional District at cariboord.ca or the City of Williams Lake at williamslake.ca.

We would also like to remind residents to refrain from lawn sprinkling or other water-use intensive activities so that water reserves will be available, if required, for firefighting activities.

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Media Contacts:

Cariboo Regional District, Emergency Operations Centre

Emily Epp, Manager of Communications
250-398-0842 eoccommunications@cariboord.ca

City of Williams Lake, Emergency Operations Centre

Geoff Paynton, Acting Information Officer
250-392-2364 gpaynton@williamslake.ca

Cariboo Fire Centre

Natasha Broznitsky, Information Officer
778-799-2101 Natasha.Broznitsky@gov.bc.ca

Fire activity and evacuation alert in Williams Lake and areas unchanged - July 13/17, 9:00 AM, EOC-17-17

Williams Lake, B.C. – The wind event forecasted to occur on Wednesday did not develop as expected. However, there is a potential that the wind event will occur on Saturday night instead. If it does, it will cause an increase in fire behaviour on active fires. The weather forecast for the Cariboo Fire Centre for today and tomorrow predicts a mix of sun and cloud, with highs in the low to mid-twenties and the potential for isolated showers. Any showers that develop will not bring enough rain to decrease the fire activity on fires. Winds are expected to be gusty. Today, there is a risk of thundershowers in the northeastern region of the fire centre.  

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and the City of Williams Lake continue to monitor fire activity in the area. The evacuation alert for the City of Williams Lake and surrounding areas remains in place. 

Should this status change, the public will be notified immediately through all means possible. Everyone is encouraged to monitor local radio stations as well as the CRD and City of Williams Lake channels.

To find Evacuation Alert information for the City of Williams Lake, visit their website at williamslake.ca, Facebook page at facebook.com/CityWilliamsLake, Twitter @CityWL or contact 250-392-2364. 

To find Evacuation Alert information for the Cariboo Regional District, visit the CRD’s website at cariboord.ca, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations or on Twitter @CaribooRD. You can also contact the Public Information Line at 1-866-759-4977.

Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System by visiting the Cariboo Regional District at cariboord.ca or the City of Williams Lake at williamslake.ca.

We would also like to remind residents to refrain from lawn sprinkling or other water-use intensive activities so that water reserves will be available, if required, for firefighting activities.

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Media Contacts:

Cariboo Regional District, Emergency Operations Centre

Emily Epp, Manager of Communications
250-398-0842  
eoccommunications@cariboord.ca

City of Williams Lake, Emergency Operations Centre

Geoff Paynton, Acting Information Officer
250-392-2364  
gpaynton@williamslake.ca

Cariboo Fire Centre

Natasha Broznitsky, Information Officer
778-799-2101  
Natasha.Broznitsky@gov.bc.ca

Fire activity and evacuation alert in Williams Lake and areas unchanged - July 12/17, 8:00 PM, EOC-17-16

Williams Lake, B.C. – The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and the City of Williams Lake continue to monitor fire activity in the area. The evacuation alert for the City of Williams Lake and surrounding areas remains in place. 

Should this status change, the public will be notified immediately through all means possible. Everyone is encouraged to monitor local radio stations as well as the CRD and City of Williams Lake channels.

To find Evacuation Alert information for the City of Williams Lake, visit their website at williamslake.ca, Facebook page at facebook.com/CityWilliamsLake, Twitter @CityWL or contact 250-392-2364. 

To find Evacuation Alert information for the Cariboo Regional District, visit the CRD’s website at cariboord.ca, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations or on Twitter @CaribooRD. You can also contact the Public Information Line at 1-866-759-4977.

Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System by visiting the Cariboo Regional District at cariboord.ca or the City of Williams Lake at williamslake.ca.

We would also like to remind residents to refrain from lawn sprinkling or other water-use intensive activities so that water reserves will be available, if required, for firefighting activities.

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Media Contacts:

Cariboo Regional District, Emergency Operations Centre

Emily Epp, Manager of Communications
250-398-0842
eoccommunications@cariboord.ca 

City of Williams Lake, Emergency Operations Centre

Geoff Paynton, Communications Director
250-392-2364
gpaynton@williamslake.ca

Evacuation alert update for Williams Lake area - July 12/17, 10:00 AM, EOC-17-11

Williams Lake, BC - The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and the City of Williams Lake continue to monitor the fire situation. Evacuation Alerts and Orders are issued on the recommendation of the BC Wildfire Service.

On Monday, July 10, the Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation alert for fringe areas around Williams Lake and the City of Williams Lake issued an alert for the entire City, due to predicted weather that has the potential to push fires west of Williams Lake toward the City of Williams Lake at a rapid pace. The alert was precautionary, but it is important to give residents ample warning so they can make necessary arrangements.

How can I prepare?

If you have to evacuate, please remember to register with the local emergency reception centre so you can be contacted or reunited with your family and loved ones. Also, be sure to:

• Listen to the radio and follow instructions from local emergency officials

• Take an emergency survival kit with you

• Ensure you take prescription medicine and all important documents

• Shut off water and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so and if you are sure you have sufficient time. Unplug all electrical household items. Leave natural gas service 'on' unless local officials advise you otherwise. 

• Take your pets with you and make arrangements to move pets and livestock to a safe area 

• Fuel your car before the evacuation and pack water and non-perishable food for the car

• Wear clothes and shoes appropriate to conditions

• Secure your home and lock the doors

• Follow the routes specified by emergency officials and don’t take shortcuts as a shortcut could take you to a blocked or dangerous area. Stay away from downed power lines

• Contact your out-of-area emergency contact (identified in your personal emergency plan) to let them know what has happened, that you are ok, where you are going and when you expect to arrive. 

Emergency Reception Centres

• People on alert or who are self-evacuating are encouraged to register in-person at reception centres in Williams Lake at the Lake City Secondary School Carson Campus and in Prince George at the College of New Caledonia (West Entrance).

Evacuation Routes

Please find below an update on the current road situation in the Cariboo for people who are evacuating or self-evacuating. Note that this information is current, but the situation may change. Please ensure that you check Drivebc.ca for the most up-to-date road and evacuation information.  If you are:

• North of 100 Mile on Highway 97 (includes Williams Lake City) you have to leave the areas via Highway 97 north to Prince George. 

• South of 100 Mile on Highway 97 you have to leave the area via Highway 24.

• In the Horsefly area, take the Beaver Valley Road, the Ditch Road or the Range Road (Gavin Lake Road) to the Likely Road and then take the Beaver Lake Road to Highway 97 north. 

• In the Chilcotin, you can get through on Highway 20 (east-bound only) to Williams Lake and then leave north on Highway 97 to Prince George. An alternate route is to go through Farwell Canyon and the Gang Ranch to Dog Creek Road to Enterprise Road to Highway 97 and then head north to Prince George. 

• If you are unable to get to Highway 97 south due to the Canim-Hendrix Road closure (located between Highway 97 and Sunman Road), see the attached map for a route to Highway 24. The route is staffed with check points, signs, and patrols, and is being treated with dust control. 

• PLEASE NOTE: there is no access south on Highway 97 at Kersley. Access is limited to essential services only. 

For More Information:

You can find information on each CRD Evacuation Order and Alert at cariboord.ca or on Facebook at CRD Emergency Operations Centre. If the information about a specific area has not been updated in a while, that is because the information is still relevant and has not changed. For further information, call the CRD’s public information telephone line at 1-866-759-4977.

Please also find information about the City of Williams Lake, specifically, at the City’s website williamslake.ca and Facebook page facebook.com/CityWilliamsLake and Twitter @CityWL. For further information, please call the City of Williams Lake EOC at 250-392-2364 or 250-392-2365.

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Media Contacts:

Cariboo Regional District, Emergency Operations Centre

Emily Epp, Manager of Communications 

250-398-0842 

eoccommunications@cariboord.ca 

City of Williams Lake, Emergency Operations Centre

Geoff Paynton, Director of Communications 

250-392-2364 

gpaynton@williamslake.ca

~  Please continue to check the City's website and and social media pages for the most up to date information.  ~

City of Williams Lake Evacuation Alert Update - July 11/17, 3:00 PM

The City wide evacuation alert that was issued yesterday is still in place.  It was issued as a result of weather events that are being forecast for Wednesday.  This predicted weather has the potential to push fires to the West of Williams Lake towards the City at a rapid pace.  The fires in the west closer to Williams Lake remain relatively stable but the predicted weather pattern has yet to develop.  At this time there is no imminent danger to and property or structures within the City of Williams Lake.

Even though we are only in an Evacuation Alert it never hurts to understand the City Evacuation Plan and what you should do in case an evacuation order is ever issued.

Should an evacuation Order ever be issued those that can self-evacuate should follow the instructions given in the Order and register at the Emergency Social Services Reception Centre indicated in the order.  Depending on which highways are open at the time this will likely be in either Prince George or Kamloops.

For those persons not able to self-evacuate the City has been divided into 12 zones and each has a muster point.  If an evacuation order is issued buses will wait at these muster points as long as possible and will transport people out of the evacuation area.  You must make your way to these muster points as soon as possible as buses cannot wait indefinitely.  

If you are physically unable to make your way to the muster point, even with assistance from family or friends, you MUST now identify yourself to the EOC by calling 250-392-2364 or 250-392-2365.  If you do not self-identify we will have no way of knowing your require assistance.

Evacuation Muster Zone Maps and other emergency information is available on the City website at  http://www.williamslake.ca/253/Evacuation-Map or can be picked up in person at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) located at the main Fire Hall in Williams Lake on South Lakeside Drive.

For information please call 250-392-2364 or 250-392-2365.

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Media Contact:

Geoff Paynton, Acting Information Officer
City of Williams Lake
250-392-2364

~  Please continue to check the City's website and and social media pages for the most up to date information.  ~

City Wide Evacuation Alert Issued due to Potential Weather Events - July 10/17, 6:00 PM

A City wide EVACUATION ALERT is being issued due to weather events that are being forecast for Wednesday.  This predicted weather has the potential to push fires to the West of Williams Lake towards the City at a rapid pace.

At this time the alert is precautionary but it is important to give residents ample warning to allow everyone to make all necessary preparations.

Preparing for evacuation:

• Pack your identification, clothing and medications for at least three days

• Alert family and loved ones of the situation, give them the location of the reception centre so they can locate you in the event of an evacuation

• Make arrangements for your pets

• More info on planning go to www.williamslake.ca and click on Emergency Planning for information and links.

An EVACUATION ALERT is a notification of POTENTIAL danger that might arise.  An evacuation alert does NOT mean you have to evacuate; rather, you should be prepared to evacuate with very short notice. The reason evacuation alerts are issued is to notify residents of the potential for loss of life from unstable fire conditions. 

This alert may be followed by an order to evacuate and when an evacuation order is issued you must leave your home immediately. Please monitor your local radio station for situation updates.

An emergency reception centre has been established at Lake City Secondary (Carson Campus) and any persons self-evacuating should report to this centre.  Any person who wishes to evacuate now but are physically unable to do so should call 250-392-2364 and assistance will be arranged.

Should the status change, the public will be notified immediately through all means possible and everyone is encouraged to monitor local radio stations, legitimate social media sites, as well as the City of Williams Lake Facebook page, Twitter and website.

For information of an urgent nature please call 250-392-2364 or 250-392-2365.

*City of Williams Lake Evacuation Map

Fire Activity in Vicinity of Williams Lake Remains Stable - July 10/17, 11:00 AM

As of this morning fire activity in the areas immediately surrounding the City of Williams Lake remains relatively stable.  At this time there is no imminent threat to any structures or property within City boundaries.

Evacuation alerts remain in place for the North Lakeside and South Lakeside areas of Williams Lake. 

Should any status change the public will be notified immediately through all means possible and everyone is encouraged to monitor local radio stations, legitimate social media sites, as well as the City of Williams Lake Facebook page, Twitter and website.

An emergency reception centre has been established at Lake City Secondary (Carson Campus) and any persons self-evacuating should report to this centre.

Residents are once again reminded to refrain from lawn sprinkling and heavy water use to ensure that water reserves are available should they be needed for firefighting efforts.

For information of an urgent nature please call 250-392-2364.

Red Cross Info

Evacuees are request to register with Emergency Social Services in person at one of the Emergency Social Services in either Williams Lake at the Lake City Secondary on Carson Drive and then proceed to the Prince George center at the College of New Caledonia West Entrance on 22nd Avenue.

If you under an Evacuation Order you are eligible to register with Canadian Red Cross. Please register online at redcross.ca/gethelp or call the contact centre at 1-800-863-6582 to have an agent help you register.

UPDATED:  Evacuation Alert Issued for North Lakeside Area of Williams Lake - July 9/17, 2:35 PM

An Evacuation Alert has been issued for the North Lakeside area of Williams Lake (Evacuation Zone 8).  This area includes all of the properties from Lakeview Crescent east to the City Boundary on both sides of the highway. 

This is not an evacuation order, but given predicted weather patterns and firefighting resources that are stretched thin it is felt that it would be a prudent action at this time for residents of these areas to consider their options now.

An emergency reception centre has been established at Lake City Secondary (Carson Campus) and any persons self-evacuating should report to this centre.

At this time there is no imminent threat to any structures or property within City boundaries.

For information of an urgent nature please call 250-392-2364.

Zone 8 Map (CLICK HERE)

Evacuation Alert Issued for Parts of South Lakeside - July 8/17

The City of Williams Lake is issuing an Evacuation Alert for residents on South Lakeside Drive from the Seventh Day Adventist Academy east to the City boundary, and urges residents in this area to consider self-evacuating at this time.

This is not an evacuation order, but given predicted weather patterns Saturday and firefighting resources that are stretched thin it is felt that it would be a prudent action at this time for residents of these areas to consider their options now.

An emergency reception centre has been established at Lake City Secondary (Carson Campus) and any persons self-evacuating should report to this centre.

At this time there is no imminent threat to any structures or property within City boundaries.

For information of an urgent nature please call 250-392-2364.

City of Williams Lake Emergency Operations Centre Activated - July 7/17

The City of Williams Lake has activated its Emergency Operations Centre at the Fire Hall and continues to monitor fires in the immediate area.

At this time there is no immediate threat to any structures or property within City boundaries.

The City asks that everyone please refrain from sprinkling, or using water in large volumes, until further notice. This will ensure that there are sufficient water reserves for firefighting should they be required.

For information of an urgent nature, call 250-392-4321.