Evacuation Alerts Issued as Central B.C. Wildfires Threaten Communities
Evacuation alerts have been issued for properties near two wildfires burning out of control in central British Columbia, including the small community of Endako.
The Cariboo Regional District issued an alert on Sunday night covering six parcels of land over 32 square kilometers, stating that a fire in the Burgess Creek area is dangerous and residents should prepare to leave at short notice. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) discovered the Burgess Creek fire, located about 600 kilometers north of Vancouver, on Saturday. It has since grown to 16 square kilometers in size.
About 400 kilometers to the northwest, a fire is threatening Endako, a community of several dozen properties alongside Highway 16. The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako issued an alert Sunday afternoon stating that the entire town is under threat. Highway 16 is a crucial corridor connecting Prince George with Prince Rupert on the North Coast.
Information posted Monday morning by the BCWS indicates nine wildfires ignited in the province in the previous 24 hours. Officials have expressed concerns that this year’s wildfire season could be challenging, as much of the province continues to experience significant drought and record-low snowpack levels.
Last year’s wildfire season witnessed over 28,400 square kilometers of forest and land burned, hundreds of homes destroyed, and tens of thousands of people forced to evacuate.
