Low on battery or mobile data? Use CBC Lite to access the latest updates on wildfires in the area. An evacuation order has been issued for the community of Anahim Lake as wildfires near Bella Coola in central B.C. have advanced towards residential areas overnight. The Cariboo Regional District and the Ulkatcho First Nation issued numerous evacuation orders at 6 a.m. PT, requiring approximately 570 individuals in the Anahim Lake, Nimpo Lake, Dusty Lake, and Charlotte Lake vicinity to evacuate due to the Dusty Lake wildfire, which has expanded to over 53 square kilometers.
Evacuees are urged to head east along Highway 20 to Williams Lake, more than 200 kilometers away, to the emergency service center at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation complex. The emergency operations center director, Irene Israel, stated that they are prepared to receive evacuees and provide assistance, including accommodation options in Prince George or Kamloops if needed.
Despite the evacuation order, some residents have chosen to remain in their homes. Ralph and Grace Terpstra, co-owners of Anahim Lake Resort, have decided to stay, confident in their preparedness with adequate resources and a clear property. They are hosting night-shift firefighters at their resort and are determined to support them during this challenging time.
The B.C. Wildfire Service emphasized the severity of the situation, particularly concerning the Dusty Lake fire, expected to be difficult to contain. Hot and dry conditions are escalating fire growth, making firefighting efforts challenging. An interactive map of evacuation zones is accessible on the Cariboo Regional District website to keep residents informed.
Authorities have issued warnings to those defying evacuation orders, emphasizing the risks involved in staying behind. Anahim Lake, a community with around 1,500 residents, is renowned as the hometown of NHL goalie Carey Price, whose mother was the former chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation.