Lutz Creek Wildfire

Wednesday, 22 August 2018 12:04

Lower Post and Skooks Landing have been evacuated and are taking up shelter in Watson Lake. The Alaska Highway is closed between Coal River and the Yukon border due to Lutz Creek fire.

Lutz Creek Wildfire / Lower post eveacuations

Residents in Lower Post and Skooks Landing, a small community near the Yukon Border in Northern BC along Highway 97, have been forced to evacuate their homes due to wildfire activity. The Blue River Fire is burning approximately 25,000 hectares while the Lutz Creek Fire is approximately 4030 hectares in size. Both fires were caused by lightning and are just kilometers away from the communities.

Approximately 80 residents were given the evacuation notice on Tuesday afternoon. While they couldn't give us an exact update, the Watson Lake Recreation Centre confirmed evacuees have arrived from the fire. The centre will be used as an emergency shelter by the Daylu Dena Council and is open to anyone who is fleeing the fires.

Drive BC notes the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) is also closed in both directions between Coal River and the Yukon Border because of the wildfires.

BC Premier John Horgan met with fire crews on Tuesday in Prince George, however thick smoke made it impossible for his aircraft to to land in Burns Lake.

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