By Olivia McDonald

Quesnel Prepares While On Evacuation Alert

Aug 11, 2018 | 3:38 PM

QUESNEL – Just over 2,000 Quesnel residence received a phone call on Friday informing them of an evacuation alert. 

From Highway 97 West to Michelle Bazaeko Forest Service Road area, people have started preparing for a possible evacuation as a fire 31 km Southwest of Quesnel continues to burn. The Narcosli Creek fire is currently at about 3,700 hectares in size. 

Quesnel Mayor says this isn’t the first time the city has been put on evacuation alert but it can still scare the residents. 

“People are absolutely concerned, people yesterday did panic in some cases but for the most part I think people realize that the steps that we have to go through are just warnings for them to be prepared in the event that they do have to leave.”

Once an alert has been sent out the Emergency Operations Centre advises having a plan for somewhere your family can go and packing the essentials.  

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Items such as medication, important papers and keepsakes might be on the packing list but Save On Foods Assistant Manager Rory Parr felt a hit of panic last night as possible evacuees stocked up the grocery store needs. 

“We just want to make sure we can get in all the stuff people are going to need like we’re going heavy on the water and whatnot and try to keep everything that we think they’re going to be using.”

Winds continue to push the fire away from the city but residents should stay up to date on all alerts. 

BC Wildfire says the fire is now 80 percent guarded and 30 percent contained. 

Meantime, the Cariboo Regional District is reporting a total of 125 properties on evacuation orders through its region. For more information on Evacuation Orders and Alerts, go to the Cariboo Regional District website.