The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) has replaced the evacuation order imposed on an area near Tweedsmuir Park because of the Chelaslie River wildfire with an evacuation alert.
The Aug. 29 issued alert covers the area from the eastern boundary of Tweedsmuir Park, including all of Tetachuck Lake, Chelaslie Arm and Euchu Reach, to the southern and eastern boundary of the RDBN Electoral Area 'E' (Francois/Ootsa Lake Rural) and also includes the area of Electoral Area 'D' (Fraser Lake Rural) west of East Elkhorn Creek. The alert replaces the evacuation order that was imposed on Electoral Area 'E' and 'D' Aug. 27.
Bill Miller, director for Area B of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, said an evacuation alert lets people know there is a risk of imminent danger and advises them to get ready to leave the area by gathering together all their important documents and items such as medications along with moving their pets and livestock to a safe area in case a Declaration of State of Local Emergency is ordered. He said the RDBN issues these directives through advice from the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch who decide in consultation with weather prediction experts and fire behaviour specialists where and how significant these alerts should be.
"What they felt is over the last period of a week or so the fires have been dampened by the cooler weather and what they call the RH factor, which is basically the relative humidity, [and] that's helped them assess that the fire is not as volatile anymore," said Miller. "That's why they've changed that area that before was in an evacuation order now…to a state of alert."
Miller said the evacuation order imposed on the area due to the Chelaslie River wildfire was the last one RDBN had left, but it could be reissued at any time if conditions change for the worse. He said people can find up-to-date information on where alerts are applied on the RDBN website and at the B.C. Wildfire Management website.
"If all else fails, right now we're not running what we call an EOC, which is an Emergency Operations Centre, because we don't have any orders out there, but in that circumstance you could phone the [RDBN] in those hours of operation," he said, noting this service is also available during normal operating hours during the week.
An area restriction order has been amended for the fire south of the Chelaslie River, stated a Sept. 5 update from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Northwest Fire Centre. The area restriction order that has been in effect near a fire burning south of the Chelaslie River, including sections of Entiako Provincial Park, is immediately being amended to increase public access to those areas and reopen some forest service roads.
This amended order continues to restrict use of forested areas west of Chedakuz Creek to Tweedsmuir Park and south of Natalkuz Lake to the Blackwater River along the West Road for the protection of fire fighting personnel and the public. This area includes the Kluskus Forest Service Road west of the 118-kilometre marker.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch, as of Sept. 8 the Chelaslie River wildfire is estimated to be 133,098 hectares in size and 70 per cent contained. The China Nose wildfire is estimated to be 3450 hectares in size and 75 per cent contained.