The Martin Lake wildfire (C50627) remains out of control on June 19 but crews reportedly made good progress overnight.
The fire size has been updated to an estimated 2,258 hectares as of the morning of June 19. The fire was discovered on June 15, is suspected to have been caused by lightning and is located about 3.5 km northwest of Tatla Lake, a small community in the Chilcotin. Tatla Lake is 222 km west along Highway 20 from Williams Lake.
The BC Wildfire Service said crews worked with heavy equipment to secure the control line and help improve access for ground crews in the remote area and assessments are now underway for possible planned ignitions (burning off operations).
Burning fuel between the control lines and the active fire line could help slow or stop the fire's spread if the conditions allow burning to take place and provides a safer, more defensible line for firefighters to work from.
An evacuation alert issued by the Cariboo Regional District remains in effect for 30 parcels of land and 14 structures in the Martin Lake area. The alert applies to an area covering 38,453 hectares.
The Tatla Lake area is still seeing extreme fire hazard ratings, despite rain in other areas. Rain fell east of the Chilcotin on June 18, however, the weather station at Tatla Lake still shows no rain having fallen in that area of the Chilcotin Plateau, with fine surface fuels and deep layers of organic materials all extremely dry, making firefighters' work even more challenging in the remote and often windy plateau region.
However, a forecast shows the potential for heavy rainfall to provide some relief for firefighters as soon as tomorrow.
While the Cariboo Fire Centre reported there would be smoke visible to drivers along Highway 20, there are no impacts to Highway 20 at this time. Travellers can check Drivebc.ca for the latest on travel conditions.
Those in the area under an evacuation alert should:
Have a plan to transport all family members or co-workers outside of the area, should the area be brought under evacuation order.
Make grab-and-go bags for each member of your household to keep essential items readily available for a quick departure. Pack clothing, ready-to-eat food, toiletries, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (i.e. insurance), immediate care needs for dependents and, if you choose, keepsakes (photographs, etc.).
Ensure that any dependents or pets are prepared for departure. Gather comfort items (blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) for your dependents to make an evacuation less stressful. Gather any kennels or leashes to make transportation safe with your pets.
Move pets and livestock to a safe area if they cannot be evacuated. Ensure water and feed are available.
Keep the fuel tanks of personal vehicles full in case a new order is issued.
Ensure that you have accommodation options for your family, if possible. An Evacuee Reception Centre will be made available if required. Homeowner or tenant insurance may provide greater support than ESS will be able to.
Monitor reliable news sources for information on evacuation orders and locations of Reception Centres and the CRD’s channels on Facebook and cariboord.ca.
If you are on an evacuation ALERT, or if you have been displaced from your home due to an emergency, please self-register for Emergency Support Services. You will need to sign up for the BC Services Card app to access the self-registration tool, which will reduce wait times for evacuees and assist in the referral process. https://ess.gov.bc.ca/.
Further information will be issued as it becomes available. Please visit the CRD Emergency Operations Facebook as well as the CRD website at cariboord.ca/EOC. For more information contact the CRD's emergency information line at 1-866-759-4977 (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily).
Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders.
For the latest on wildfire in your area or to report smoke or a fire, download the BCWS Wildfire App. Photos and information given in the app help provide crews with the latest, location-specific information:
