B.C. declares Province-wide state of emergency - July 7

[sue_t]

140 new wildfires started on Friday, July 7, burning dozens of buildings and forcing thousands of people from their homes.

Evacuation orders were issued for Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Princeton, 105 Mile House and 108 Mile House, while other communities have been placed under evacuation alert, including 100 Mile House and 150 Mile House.

The DriveBC webpage indicates that Highway 97 is closed near 100 Mile House and Quesnel due to the fires. Highway 97C is also closed due to a fire.

Read this news article to learn more

[ford-willy]

Just missed it. Drove through the area early July crossing at Sumas into Washington July 4. Slowly driving down Oregon coast now on way back to Southern California.

[sue_t]

July 16 news article
BC Wildfires: Dry Weather Continues To Fuel 'Nasty' Blazes

The fires continue to spread. 160 fires burning now with 37,000 people evacuated from their homes.

Jeez, that is almost as many as the total population of Yukon!

[partsman01]

sue.t wrote:
The National Post newspaper has an article about the fires. A retired firefighter watched his home go up in flames.

http://nationalpost.com/wildfires-raging-in-b-c-interior/

Here's one of the pictures from Cache Creek

That is where I stay on my way up and back when traveling in that area.

[Crowe]

Thoughts and prayers to everybody who may be affected.

[romore]

It is ugly. The Okanagan is still open for business although there is a smoky haze. However boating is restricted on the larger lakes to high water and debris from the spring melt. The warm weather is not expected to let up anytime soon. On the bright side the cherries are fat, sweet and plentiful.

[sue_t]

The National Post newspaper has an article about the fires. A retired firefighter watched his home go up in flames.

http://nationalpost.com/wildfires-raging-in-b-c-interior/

Here's one of the pictures from Cache Creek

[BC_Explorer]

Drove through the Ashcroft to 100 Mile hwy 97 corridor on Thursday and just missed the fires. I am currently just north of Little Fort and there was a very brief lightening storm yesterday that set off a couple of fires there. Yesterday and today there is ash falling and smoke in the air.

I had originally planned on heading back that way today but with all the highway closures, I'll wait it out another day and take the Coquihalla if need be.

[GaryKH]

Yea, that was a terrible storm that went over yesterday! Lots of lightning, high winds, dry conditions, high temperatures. Hopefully they can get a handle on it quickly! Thoughts and prayers go out to the firefighters.

[pianotuna]

Thanks for the useful links Sue.

[sue_t]

Check the BC Wildfire Service map for up-to-date info regarding fire locations.