Wildfires in northwestern B.C. prompt helicopter rescues and more evacuation orders

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. – Helicopter evacuations are underway in northwestern British Columbia as wildfires burning near the city of Prince George have forced nearly 80 people out of more than 800 properties.

Emily Epp from the Cariboo Regional District says the wildfire cut off access to a forestry service road, prompting the RCMP to evacuate at least four families by chopper.

Residents in the area are being evacuated to an emergency reception centre in Prince George, roughly 250 kilometres northeast of the evacuation zone, which was expanded to over 900 properties on Saturday.

More hot and dry weather along with gusting winds are expected for northwestern B.C., which Epp says will likely create an active firefighting day for crews across the Cariboo region including nearby Quesnel, where an evacuation alert is already in place for an area near the western side of the city.

She says the majority of the wildfires in the area were caused by a massive lightning storm several weeks ago, connecting fires near Williams Lake, B.C., to fires 300 kilometres west in Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park.

Smoke and air quality are a problem in the area though Epp could not confirm precisely where they sat on the air quality index.