Cariboo Under Siege: Beef Trail Creek Wildfire Triggers Urgent Evacuation Order as Blaze Explodes

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) has issued an urgent evacuation order for numerous properties as the rapidly escalating Beef Trail Creek wildfire rages out of control west of Williams Lake. Residents in Electoral Area "B" were forced to flee their homes as the blaze demonstrated aggressive behaviour, growing from an initial 200 hectares to a staggering 3,300 hectares in less than 24 hours.

The evacuation order, which came into effect early Friday, May 31st, directly impacts properties along Beef Trail Road, Likely Road, Soda Creek Road, Black Creek Road, Cariboo Wagon Road, Beaver Valley Road, and various smaller adjacent roads.

Officials emphasize the critical importance for all affected individuals to leave immediately to ensure their safety and allow emergency crews unimpeded access to the area.

This rapidly spreading conflagration, identified as person-caused and currently under investigation, intensified dramatically through Friday and Saturday.

The initial alarm raised for a 200-hectare fire quickly escalated, reaching 1,000 hectares by Friday night before exploding to its current size of 3,300 hectares by Saturday morning. The sheer speed and scale of the fire's growth underscore the extreme danger it poses to the region.

In response to the wildfire's volatile nature, the CRD also expanded an evacuation alert for a much broader section of Electoral Area "B".

This alert now encompasses areas south of Highway 97, stretching along the Williams Lake River Valley, and includes properties near Soda Creek Road, parts of Black Creek Road, and the Williams Lake-Gang Ranch Road. Residents under an alert should prepare for the possibility of an evacuation order being issued on short notice.

For those displaced by the evacuation order, critical instructions have been provided: Evacuees must register at the Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre.

If the road to Williams Lake is closed, residents are advised to proceed north to the ESS centre in Prince George. Before leaving, evacuees should turn off natural gas and propane appliances, close all windows and doors, lock their homes, and take essential items such as medication, documents, and pets.

Adherence to traffic control personnel and designated routes is vital for everyone's safety.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is actively engaged in combating the Beef Trail Creek fire, facing challenging conditions as they work to contain the blaze and protect communities. Residents are urged to monitor official channels from the CRD, BCWS, and DriveBC for the latest updates and advisories as the situation remains highly dynamic and unpredictable.