Columbia Valley Pioneer Staff
Progress made by Horsethief Creek fire crews has resulted in the evacuation alert being rescinded for the Panorama and Toby Creek areas. The alert affected 926 dwellings.
“With the hard work of the BC Wildfire crews and the passage of the challenging cold front, the BC Wildfire Service have determined it is safe to lift the alert for these 926 dwellings,” says Regional Emergency Operations Centre Information Officer Loree Duczek. “We are grateful to all the individuals on the front lines and behind the scenes from BC Wildfire Service who have been working to protect the residents and the properties in the area of the Horsethief Creek wildfire through incredibly difficult conditions,” she added.
The evacuation alert for Lake Enid, Bear Mountain, and Horsethief Creek areas remains in effect.
An area restriction in place for the vicinity of the Horsethief Creek fire is still in effect, reflecting the need to protect the public in areas where fire suppression activities are ongoing. To view the map of the area restriction visit www.bcwildfire.ca.
The Horsethief Creek fire is still estimated to be 3,918.5 hectares in size. Strong winds on Friday caused the fire to spot in the Neave drainage. Guards were challenged but containment lines protecting Panorama have held except for some spotting. Danger tree assessment and falling is a priority for crews. Hot spots continue to be actively monitored.
Although the alert has been rescinded, Duczek says it’s still important for all residents in the region to remain aware and prepared. “Conditions remain extremely dry and we all need to continue to stay prepared and aware as the fire danger rating remains high to extreme in our region.”
