Evacuation order issued due to Wells Creek wildfire

A new evacuation order has been issued for an area of B.C.’s interior, west of Prince George, due to the Wells Creek wildfire.

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and the Cheslatta Carrier Nation issued a new evacuation order Saturday evening for the area southeast of Smithers, on the border of the Nechako Reservoir.

Initially issued as an alert around 6:00 p.m., the notice was upgraded to an order within a few hours. The order includes all properties along Ootsa Lake Road, including Petkau Road, Marilla Road, St. Marys Pit Road, to the Marilla Main FSR.

Evacuees are being directed to register at the Houston Community Hall reception centre.

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The Wells Creek wildfire is currently burning at approximately 79 square kilometres and is classified by BC Wildfire Service as out of control. The service reports the fire’s suspected cause as lighting.

This new order adds to six preexisting evacuation alerts and two orders in the regional district.

The news comes as a number of residents in the Kamloops, Shuswap and Kelowna areas have been given the green light to return to their homes in recent days, as evacuation orders were downgraded to alerts by the Central Okanagan Regional District.

There are currently 438 active fires in the province, 206 of which are classified as out of control.