Evacuation of Williams Lake ordered

WILLIAM LAKE – An evacuation order has been issued for Williams Lake and areas around the city.

Residents of the city of 10,000 have been ordered to leave by the Cariboo Regional District. Evacuees are being directed to Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Anyone unable to evacuate themselves must make their way to a muster point and will be bussed out.

"Follow Highway 97 South to Highway 24 (South of 100 Mile House); follow Highway 24 to Little Fort; turn right onto Highway 5 at Little Fort and continue to Kamloops and register at the ESS Centre located at Thompson Rivers University," the regional district post states.

Residents evacuating are being advised to shut off water, gas and electricity if they are able to and to take emergency supplies.

Winds predicted to day have caused wildfires in southern B.C. to be more active, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

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