An evacuation order has been issued for certain properties in Bridge River Country due to the spreading Downton Lake wildfire.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) issued the order at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1 for all properties in the area of Gun Lake and Lajoie Lake in the SLRD’s Electoral Area A, due to “immediate danger to life safety,” the order said. (See map.)
Those under the evacuation order are urged to leave the area immediately, and return to their primary residence, if applicable. Otherwise, with accommodation in the area limited, the public is asked to make arrangements to stay with family and friends, if possible.
If emergency accommodations are required, register in person at the Lillooet and District Rec Centre at 930 Main Street, or by calling the Emergency Social Services director at 250-256-8524.
Those needing transportation assistance from the area should call the SLRD’s on-call duty manager at 604-698-9812. Gather your family and, if there is room, take a neighbour or someone else needing transportation. Motorists are urged not to fill more vehicles than necessary.
The SLRD also advised those evacuating to shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than fridges and freezers; to take critical items such as medication, purse, wallet, and keys only if they are immediately available; to close all windows and doors; and to latch, not lock, any gates, before leaving the house.
At press time, the Downton Lake fire was burning out of control at 875 hectares. There are currently 21 BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) personnel, five contract crew, and six structure protection personnel assigned to the fire. That’s in addition to the three helicopters fighting the blaze, with more available as needed.
On Monday, July 31, crews continued to push a 10-foot wet line into the fire perimeter in the southeast flank of the fire closest to Downton Lake, the BCWS said. Structural protection was present in the community on Tuesday, “testing sprinkler lines and continuing triage of properties surrounding Gun Lake,” the BCWS noted.
Located 10 kilometres west of Gold Bridge, on the north side of Downton Lake, the fire was discovered July 13 and is suspected to be lightning-caused.
Further information will be posted at slrd.bc.ca, and notices through the SLRD’s Alert messaging service, which you can subscribe to for free at slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert to receive emergency notifications via email, text, and voicemail.
