Account Login/Registration

Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.


Facebook


OR


Register

Privacy Policy

UPDATE: State of Local Emergency and evacuation notices downgraded at Lejac wildfire

(Update @ 10:30 p.m. on May 12) - The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) has rescinded their local state of emergency, and downgraded the evacuation orders and alerts.

On Sunday at 8 p.m., Gerry Thiessen the chair of the RDBN signed a cancellation order bringing an end to the one-day State of Local Emergency implemented on Saturday evening.

Additionally, residents in the area under evacuation order (south of hwy 16 to south of Roys Lake; west and east of Seaspunket 4) can now return to their homes, as it has been downgraded to an alert as of 8 p.m. on Sunday.

<who>Photo Credit: RDBN</who>

The areas previously under an evacuation alert — residences within the boundaries south of Hwy 16 to south of Klez Lake and east of Drywilliam Lake — have been entirely revoked.

(Update @ 8 p.m. on May 12) - The Lejac wildfire's size has been changed to 236-hectares with the help of better mapping.

Crews have been making good progress on the fire, which is now considered 50% contained and 70% guarded.

Molly Blower, BCWS fire information officer, explains that while it is listed as 70% guarded, the other 30% of the area is a natural fuel break which will hinder the spread.

BCWS reports that 41 firefighters were at the fire on Sunday, along with three helicopters and 15 units of heavy equipment.

Five firefighters will remain at the scene overnight to monitor fire behaviour. One medium-sized helicopter is anticipated to be on site tomorrow along with fire crews.

Evacuation alerts and orders are still in effect, but BCWS expects more information regarding their implementation to be released to the public soon.

(Update @ 10:58 a.m. on May 12): An active wildfire that prompted the declaration of a local state of emergency and several evacuations is still not under control.

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako issued a state of emergency Saturday night and ordered people to leave an area near the community of Lejac, about five kilometres east of Fraser Lake.

Regional district chairman Gerry Thiessen said he first received a call at around 4 p.m. when the fire was about four hectares in size, and it grew to 260 hectares by the evening.

“We had pretty significant winds yesterday and that was a big concern,” Thiessen said in a phone interview Sunday.

The evacuation area affects only about half a dozen homes in an area that formerly hosted a residential school, Thiessen said.

<who> Photo credit: BCWS

An evacuation alert is in place for another area, meaning about 40 people there have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

The BC Wildfire Service says that as of Sunday, the fire was considered 70% “guarded” but zero per cent contained.

Forty firefighters, two helicopters and several pieces of heavy equipment are currently deployed to fight the blaze.

The cause remains under investigation, but Thiessen said that with no recent lightning in the area it appears to have been human-caused.

A dry winter and spring means the snowpack is low in the region, making it more vulnerable to fires, he said.

“We haven’t had any significant snow or rain since almost Christmas so that’s a real concern for us,” he said. “We’re hoping that we get some precipitation and we will be able to get through the summer with as few fires as possible.”

Having grown up in the area, Thiessen said wildfires are not uncommon in July and August, but it’s rare to have such a large blaze so early in the season.

“This is very unusual and it’s concerning,” he said.

With files from Canadian Press

(Original story @ 9.38 a.m. on May 11): A wildfire that sparked near Fraser Lake on Saturday afternoon has already grown large enough to force evacuations from nearby.

According to Molly Blower, BCWS fire information officer, the first call reporting the fire came in at about 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Since then, the Lejac wildfire, burning approximately five-kilometres east of the Fraser Lake community, has grown to 260-hectares in size.

Time to pack? 🤷🏻‍♀️

A post shared by Sarah Macarthur (@sarahamac) on

There are currently 20 BCWS firefighters on size battling the fire who will remain at the fire throughout the night. Air tankers were also assisting firefighters.

The fire has also forced evacuation alerts to nearby communities.

"The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako is in the process of implementing evacuation alerts and orders for some areas near the fire," said Blower.

The RDBN issued an evacuation order for residents living "south of Hwy 16 to the south of Roys Lake; west and east of Seaspunkut 4 (Lejac)," a release reads.

An evacuation alert has been implemented for the area south of Hwy 16 to south of Klez Lake and east of Drywilliam Lake.

<who>Photo Credit: RDBN</who>

A local state of emergency was also ordered by the RDBN at 8 p.m. on Saturday night to remain in force for at least one week unless cancelled.

The is suspected to be human-caused and is highly visible from nearby communities.

Drive BC has advised travellers to watch for traffic control and drive with caution and crews attend the active fire.

NowMedia will update this story as it progresses.



If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.

If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.


Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to news@kelownanow.com.



Weather
webcam icon

weather-icon
Fri
12℃

weather-icon
Sat
12℃

weather-icon
Sun
14℃

weather-icon
Mon
16℃

weather-icon
Tue
20℃

weather-icon
Wed
11℃

current feed webcam icon

Recent Livestream




Top Stories

Follow Us

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Linkedin Follow us on Youtube Listen on Soundcloud Follow Our TikTok Feed Follow Our RSS Follow Our pinterest Feed
Follow Our Newsletter
Privacy Policy