With concerns growing over the Flood Falls Trail wildfire, Mayor Peter Robb says an evacuation plan is in place should the blaze reach Hope.
With the fire now estimated at 520 hectares, many people have taken to social media to express their concerns and questions over a evacuation plan for the district — especially now that properties in Hunter Creek Road and Laidlaw have been evacuated. Yet, Hope’s mayor wants to reassure residents that the blaze is the council’s top priority right now, and a plan is in place should things become dire.
“A plan is in place and the basics are posted on our website,” says Robb. “Right now, it tells the people to phone a number and they will be directed to Mission right now. That’s currently where [Emergency Management BC] wants anyone that’s evacuated.”
The information that Robb talks about is located near the bottom of the website page. According to the site:
“Should you need help registering, or emergency assistance with lodging or other critical needs, evacuees should email or call missioness@mission.ca or 604-820-3792. Your call will be forwarded to the answering machine. The line is monitored frequently and all messages will be promptly responded to.
If you need transportation assistance from the area, advise the person providing this notice or call 604-869-5671 {0830-1630 M-F) or 604-869-1149 (After Hours Emergency).”
Evacuated residents were given physical instructions by the RCMP and firefighters on where to go and what to do during the emergency. For the entire District of Hope, should it come to that, Robb says the community could be ordered to evacuate to designated locations in either Chilliwack or Abbotsford. But again, it depends on the circumstances and which location becomes best suited for the situation.
“It could be the arena [in Abbotsford or Chilliwack],” says Robb. “But if not, it could be a school auditorium. It depends on the size of the evacuation — how soon and when? There’s so many factors. And that’s why we’re reluctant to put out a detailed report and say, ‘Okay, everyone will exit Highway 7.’ But then there’s a change and now we have to go on Highway 1.”
Robb also says that “right now things are good…and the community is not at threat for the moment.”
The wildfire started on Thursday (Sept. 8) and has continued to grow since then. As of Monday afternoon, 78 firefighters and seven helicopters are fighting the blaze. Ground and air crew are concentrating efforts on the north, west, and east flanks of the fire.
For information on evacuation alerts and orders, folks can check for updates on the District of Hope’s website, hope.ca/emergency-management.
For updates on the fire, folks can check for updates on BC Wildfire Service’s page for the fire, which is located here.
READMORE: Flood Falls Trail wildfire estimated at 520 hectares and growing
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