Update: City of Williams Lake activates State of Local Emergency ...

Update (10:13pm):

The City of Williams Lake has declared a State of Local Emergency due to the Williams Lake River Valley Wildfire.

The evacuation alert has been expanded to include residents in the Country Club Boulevard, Fairview Drive, Tolko’s Lakeview Mill, Woodland Drive and all Westridge Drive properties.

They ask if you are approached by RCMP to follow their direction, as well as to preserve water, and stay away from the emergency crews in the area.

Wildland crews will be working throughout the night at various hot spots throughout the River Valley.

More information about the State of Local Emergency can be found on the Williams Lake website here.

Update (8:17pm):

The City of Williams Lake has issued an evacuation alert for parts of the City.

The alert includes properties from Highway 20 on Mackenzie Avenue at the ‘Y’ intersection to the Jackpine Sawmill Access Road on Mackenzie Avenue near Atlantic Power’s Williams Lake plant.

The City has also activated its Emergency Operations Centre at Level 3.

Mayor Surinderpal Rathor has also made a request to residents while crews battle the fire.

“I would request everybody to preserve the water, and stay away from the emergency crews so they can do their job. That’s all I ask from everyone.”

The wildfire remains out of control at 20 hectares.

Original Story (7:27pm):

The Williams Lake Fire Department, BC Wildfire Service and other emergency services are on scene of a wildfire.

The fire, currently 10 hectares in size and listed as out of control, was discovered today (July 21st) at 5:54pm.

BC Wildfire Services have deployed initial attack crews and wildfire aviation to the fire.

More to come.

More information on the wildfires in the region can be found on the BC Wildfire Service map here.