The entire District of 100 Mile House is under an evacuation order amid a “rapidly moving” wildfire that is threatening homes and businesses.
Mayor Mitch Campsall issued the order after the wildfire located near the Gustafsen North Forest Service Road grew to 5,000 hectares as of 6:33 p.m. on Sunday.
Coverage of the wildfire near 100 Mile House on Globalnews.ca:
The order was issued due to the “potential danger of life and health.”
It applies to “all properties and businesses within the District of 100 Mile House municipal boundaries.”
Kevin Skrepnek, chief fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service, said Monday that the evacuation was ordered due to a dramatic shift in winds.
READ MORE: B.C. wildfires map 2017: Current location of wildfires around the province
Evacuees are being asked to go to Prince George as Kamloops is already overwhelmed, said Al Richmond, chair of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD).
READ MORE: B.C. wildfire status live updates: 230 fires, almost 10,000 evacuees
“We ask folks to remain calm and proceed in an orderly fashion, that there’s not a panic… but they do need to move quickly and in an orderly manner to evacuate themselves from any potential harm,” he said.
LISTEN: CKNW reporter Jon Hall talks to CRD chair Al Richmond
People are being asked to leave via Highway 97 to Highway 24 and proceed to Little Fort, then proceed to Prince George via Highway 5 and Highway 16.
Prince George says it is welcoming more residents at the emergency reception centre that has been set up in the College of New Caledonia.
The influx of evacuees is expected to exceed the housing capacity at the College and draw on the 200 beds that were set up on Sunday at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre, which is located on the campus of the University of Northern British Columbia. It is also leading the City’s Emergency Operations Centre to establish an additional accommodation site at Prince George Secondary School, which is across Highway 97 from the College of New Caledonia. Hundreds of more beds will be installed in the PGSS gym on Monday.
WATCH: The latest on the evacuation from 100 Mile House
Evacuees arriving in Prince George are reminded first to register at the emergency reception centre on the College campus, which is located at the corner of Highway 97 and 22nd Avenue, north of the intersection of Highway 97 with Highway 16. Services, including lodging, will be assigned from the emergency reception centre. As of yesterday evening, roughly 800 people had registered at the centre for services such as food vouchers and lodging.
WATCH: Reporter Nadia Stewart is in Prince George Monday morning: