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Evacuation order for six properties in Zeballos

An evacuation order has been issued for six Zeballos properties in danger of falling debris from a growing wildfire.
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A wildfire is burning near houses in the village of Zebellos on northern Vancouver Island. Aug. 17, 2018

An evacuation order has been issued for six Zeballos properties in danger of falling debris from a growing wildfire.

The 90-hectare Gold Valley Main wildfire expanded from 29 hectares on Friday as it burns through steep, rugged terrain above the village of 100 residents on northwest Vancouver Island.

It has mainly been burning up the slope, away from the community. But burning debris is falling down the slope, setting off more fires below, Natasha Broznitsky of the Coastal Fire Centre, said Saturday evening.

Falling debris led to the evacuation order, she said.

“The big challenge on this fire is that it is burning in extremely difficult and steep terrain. Some of that terrain is inaccessible to firefighters so the firefighters we have there are working in areas where it is safe to do so.”

A helicopter was called in to dump water on the blaze

B.C. wildfire service firefighters and the Port McNeill Fire Department are present. The Comox Fire Department protection unit has been working on safeguarding properties with help from a structural protection specialist, said a statement posted on the village of Zeballos’ website Saturday.

“Keep our fingers crossed that the fire stays in its present state and that the weather cooperates. A nice windless Zeballos rain storm wouldn’t hurt.”

The east side of the village remains under an evacuation alert.

Nearby, the 105-hectare Pinder Creek fire is close to the Zeballos forest service road. “It’s the only road into Zeballos so our high priority on this fire is to keep that road open,” Broznitsky said.

Like the Gold Valley Main wildfire, it is also deemed to be out of control but 10 per cent is contained, she said.

Firefighters, heavy equipment and three helicopters toting buckets of water, battled that fire on Saturday.

Residents are warned that the Zeballos forest service road will close periodically for between 30 and 40 minutes. This will happen when firefighters take down trees.

Firefighters remove trees to create a break in the material that fuels the fire and when trees are considered to be dangerous.

A haze of smoke is hovering through Zeballos, resident Alana Janise said and some residents are staying inside their homes because of those conditions.
“People are prepared to leave within 30 minutes,” she said.

“I think most people understand the situation and are doing their best to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice if need be. But it’s not hectic. That’s good. I think most people are out watching, seeing what’s going on.

“People are a bit anxious to see what is coming down the pike. It’s the unknown, right?”

A five-hectare fire, at Larry Lake, six kilometres north east of Port Alice and north of Zeballos, is approaching Highway 30, the access road to that community, Broznitsky said.

It is out of control, with 10 per cent contained, she said. It is being fought by 10 firefighters, two helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment.
These fires are among about 54 on Vancouver Island, Broznitsky said.

Wildfires are raging throughout B.C.

New evacuation orders have been issued for parts of north-central British Columbia being battered by wildfires, while residents of the region are hoping for more wind to clear out the smoke.

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako issued new or expanded evacuation orders for three remote areas on Saturday, bringing the total number of evacuation orders in the region to nine — the most in B.C.

Wildfires burning near the Nadina, Shovel and Tesla lakes in the Bulkley-Nechako region are the largest in the province, and have grown to nearly 1,640 square kilometres combined.

Smoke from wildfires has prompted air quality advisories for much of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, although Environment Canada had dropped Prince George from “Very High” to “Moderate Risk” as of Saturday afternoon.

- with files from CP.