An evacuation order has been issued for 85 parcels of land and 42 structures along Highway 20 in B.C.’s Chilcotin region, due to the out-of-control Smokey Lake wildfire.
An additional 36 parcels, including one structure, and the West Chilcotin Health Centre, are under evacuation alert.
The notices were issued Sunday afternoon, with those under evacuation order asked to immediately proceed to Highway 20 and then east to Williams Lake.
“Responders may be unable to assist anyone who remains in the evacuation order area,” read the order from the Cariboo Regional District.
As of Monday morning, the Smokey Lake wildfire measured at 66.74 square kilometres, up from 57.76 square kilometres Sunday evening.
It’s one of a cluster of fires burning along Highway 20, east of Bella Coola, that have prompted evacuation orders and alerts in the past week, including the Beef Trail Creek wildfire and the Dusty Lake wildfire.
The Beef Trail Creek fire has closed an 68-kilometre stretch of Highway 20 in both directions, west of the fires.
Another stretch of the highway, near the Smokey Lake fire, is open to single-lane alternating traffic due to the fire. DriveBC says drivers should expect delays.
An existing evacuation alert issued Friday by the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and the Cariboo Regional District covers the area south of the highway, including 332 parcels of land and 165 structures.
