By The Canadian Press

Trudeau says he will visit B.C. wildfire zones amid shifting landscape

Jul 30, 2017 | 9:37 AM

REVELSTOKE, B.C. — UPDATE — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is going to see for himself today the effect hundreds of wildfires have had on British Columbia in recent weeks.

Trudeau is heading to Williams Lake with B.C. Premier John Horgan and several federal cabinet ministers.

About 10,000 people were forced from Williams Lake more than two weeks ago when flames from nearby fires threatened to cut off access to vital highways in British Columbia’s Interior, and residents only began returning home late last week.

The politicians will meet with Canadian Armed forces and RCMP members, visit a fire centre co-ordinating responses to the blazes, and do an aerial tour of fire zones in the region.

Trudeau was in Revelstoke, B.C., on Saturday, where he urged Canadians to donate to the Red Cross’ relief efforts for fire-ravaged communities across the province.

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More than 800 wildfires have scorched about 4,260 square kilometres in B.C. since April 1 and the province has spent $172.5 million fighting the flames.

Tonight the prime minister will speak to supporters at a Liberal fundraising event in Surrey.

The Canadian Press

EARLIER — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he plans to visit British Columbia’s wildfire zones in the coming days as the situation continues to shift.

Evacuation alerts for residents of 100 Mile House were lifted Saturday, but a flurry of evacuation orders were issued late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

Seventy-five kilometres to the south of 100 Mile House, residents of the village Clinton and surrounding areas were forced from their homes because of the flames were “rapidly moving”.

The Cariboo Regional District has also issued an expanded evacuation order for the Clisbako area, about 100 kilometres west of Quesnel. It also issued an evacuation alert for a region south of Highway 24, north of the Green Lake area that is under an evacuatio order.

Meanwhile, Williams Lake residents have been returning to their homes over the past few days after being ordered to leave about two weeks ago.

Trudeau was in Revelstoke Saturday urging Canadians to donate to the Red Cross to aid in relief efforts for fire-ravaged B.C. communities.

He says he will see the extent of the damage caused by the fires, but also plans to salute the efforts of hundreds of first responders who have been working tirelessly to protect communities from the wildfires.

“I know that once again, as we have in challenges in the past, Canadians will step up, stand together and show their compassion,” Trudeau said.

Officials fear high temperatures and a chance for lightning could increase fire activity.

Environment Canada forecasts rising temperatures up to and above 30 degrees Celsius for the southern Interior in the coming week, and the BC Wildfire Service has said the forests are much more dry than normal.