Another British Columbian community is being evacuated due to raging wildfires.

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako issued an expanded evacuation order at 7 p.m. on July 14 due to the Grizzly Lake wildfire.

At 8:44 p.m. on July 14, the B.C. Wildfire Service stated that the wildfire had grown to cover an estimated 2,800 hectares and “remains out of control”.

The evacuation area includes southeast of the 900 and 800 Road, including Naltesby Lake and Little Bobtail Lake, and was expanded to includes Southeast of the Bobtail Connector and Bobtail FSR to the 900 and 800 Road.

Anyone within this area must evacuate and register at the reception centre in Vanderhoof Municipal Arena (340 Columbia St. East) or contact the Emergency Support Services Director at 1-778-916-1995.  

Anyone who needs transportation assistance from the area is asked to call the Bulkley-Nechako regional district at 250-692-3195 or 1-800-320-3339.

Those who ignore the orders and remain within the evacuation area are at risk and may not be able to receive assistance from the regional district.

Yesterday, an evacuation order was issued for over 1,500 properties in the 100 Mile House area while Seymour Arm at Shuswap Lake was under evacuation alert. 

B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth stated in a news release today (July 15) that the federal government and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre are providing firefighting personnel, aircraft support, and other assets to add to British Columbian personnel and equipment that are already fighting the wildfires.

Farnworth also said that the Canadian Forces helped evacuate some residents using their aircraft last night.