Instructions was given on July 27, 2017, for thousands of forest fire evacuees in Northern BC, to return home to William Lake. Most other evacuees had also returned home, but some are still away due to close location of forest fires to their homes.
When an entire town of thousands of people are evacuated for weeks, preparations for services have to be made for returning evacuees. Burnt utilities have to be restored, stores stocked, fridges/freezers cleaned or discarded and medical services have to be ready. Dead animals also have to be buried.
Over 100 forest are still burning in mid and southern BC and the people returning home can be instructed to evacuate again.
The evacuees were housed at the College of New Caledonia [and trade school]in Prince George, but due to school preparation for September, they were moved to the University of Northern BC Sports Centre, that is closed for sports activities. The sports facilities will stay ready, in case the people have to evacuate again.
Smoke [and odour of smoke] is dense for hundred of miles surrounding the forest fires, that is causing breathing problems for some people.
People in Slave Lake and Fort Mc Murray, who experienced forest fires and burning of their houses, were especially generous to the evacuees in Northern BC and hundreds of local volunteers also assisted.
A couple who was supposed to get married in Williams lake on July 29, will now have an all volunteer wedding in Prince George, on that date.