Image credit: Cariboo Regional District

By Aaron Schulze

Evacuation Alert

Evacuation alert issued for 340 properties due to wildfire near Cariboo gold rush town of Barkerville

Jul 11, 2024 | 6:07 AM

BARKERVILLE, B.C. — The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) issued an evacuation alert for 340 properties near the historic gold rush town of Barkerville and the District of Wells.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the Cornish Mountain wildfire north of the two Cariboo communities east of Quesnel has grown to 70 hectares in size since being discovered Wednesday (July 10) morning.

Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation, although they may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.

Image credit: Cariboo Regional District

Meantime, the District of Wells declared a state of local emergency at around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

An evacuation order is in effect for properties highlighted in red, while an evacuation alert is in effect for residents highlighted in orange.

Image credit: District of Wells

CRD residents can track evacuation alerts and orders here.

Guidelines on what to do in an evacuation are available online.

The fire is burning out of control, and it is suspected to be caused by lightning.

BCWS states it has a full response for the Cornish Mountain wildfire, but crews were pulled off Wednesday night due to increased fire behaviour and elevated winds.

“Personnel will be stationed in Wells to monitor the fire activity and be prepared to respond throughout the evening,” BCWS states. “Additional resources are being deployed to support suppression efforts, including aircraft, personnel, structure protection personnel and trailer, along with heavy equipment.”

The BCWS map shows 27 active wildfires in the Cariboo Fire Centre, 26 are burning out of control. There is a trio of notable wildfires north of Quesnel Lake, one is burning at 300 hectares in size, another at 135 hectares and the third at 50 hectares.