14,000 remain evacuated as wildfires burn across B.C.
KAMLOOPS — Provincial officials said Tuesday that 219 fires were burning and over 14,000 people have been forced from their homes. Thousands more are under evacuation alerts, meaning they must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
The dynamic nature of the fires does pose challenges for officials handling highway closures, said Mike Lorimer, a regional director at the Transportation Ministry. When drivers come across heavy smoke, they should slow down, put their hazards on and keep driving, he said.
An evacuation alert was issued for the more than 10,000 residents of Williams Lake Monday night. Municipal officials warned wind and lightning forecast for Wednesday could push fires towards the city at a “rapid pace.”
The Tsilhqot’in Nation said four of its six communities near Williams Lake are threatened and many members have already evacuated. Food, water, fuel and medicine are in short supply, it said in a statement.