Wednesday, July 05, 2006

BC Forest Service: Cariboo fire update

For current updates:
Active Cariboo firesActive Cariboo fires
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A friend sent me this from the BC Forest Service:

INFORMATION BULLETIN
For Immediate Release
July 4th, 2006

Ministry of Forests and Range
BC Forest Service
Cariboo Fire Centre


SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES AFFECTING THE CARIBOO

WILLIAMS LAKE – Smoke from the various wildfires in the Cariboo is drifting into surrounding communities. Smoke and ash have been reported in most areas of the Cariboo. The recent hot and dry weather has made fire behaviour extremely active.

The smoke is mostly a result of 3 fires of note: the fire near Tezla Lake, about 48 kilometres northwest of Anahim Lake, which has grown to over 7000 hectares; the fire near Narcosli Lake, which is now burning at over 3000 hectares; and the fire northeast of Wutlus Lake, about 60 kilometres west of Quesnel, which has reached 3500 hectares.

Due to active fire behaviour on the Wutlus Lake fire, the Nazko Highway is closed in both directions from 5.4 km east of Nazko to 33.4 km west of Quesnel. For more information and for up to date road conditions please see www.pep.bc.ca or www.drivebc.ca.

Crews are also battling a number of smaller fires within the Cariboo Fire Centre, mostly located in the West Chilcotin. Fire crews are working as hard as possible to contain the fires with the resources available to them. There are over 200 firefighters working throughout the area, as well as contracted support staff. They are assisted by heavy equipment, airtankers and helicopters.

Fire information and updates can be found on the protection website at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect or call toll-free 1-888-3FOREST. If you see a wildfire, please report it to 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks.

Contact:
Kim Steinbart
Fire Information Officer
250-989-2655

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