Officials lift brief evacuation order for Valemount, B.C. ask fire risk eases

VALEMOUNT, B.C. – An evacuation order issued Saturday due to out-of-control wildfires south of Valemount, B.C., has been cancelled.

Residents in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Village of Valemount that were ordered to flee can return home.

Residents from properties east of Highway 5, south of 17th Ave, and north of the Canoe River were ordered to leave Saturday, and an evacuation alert is now in place for the Cedarside area — meaning residents can remain home but should prepare for a potential order to evacuate.

Officials say they were able to cancel the order thanks to the fast action of BC Wildfire Service members who fought to contain the flames.

The Canoe Road wildfire was discovered on Saturday and was 0.08 square kilometres in size as of that evening.

Valemount is located about 230 kilometres northeast of Kamloops.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 11, 2024.