Evacuation order issued for homes near wildfire burning above Lillooet Lake

Some families have now been ordered to leave their homes because of the risk of a landslide caused by the Cataline Creek wildfire above Lillooet Lake in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and a forecast of heavy rain.

On Thursday evening, the regional district upgraded an earlier evacuation alert to an order for dozens of properties in the Lillooet Lake Estates and the Heather Jean Properties, along with some other nearby homes. A full map of the area affected is available here.

The order says that the wildfire, combined with a rainy forecast that includes a chance of heavy downpours, "has created conditions that present an imminent risk of a debris flow."

B.C. Wildfire Service says the wildfire was triggered by lightning on Monday and it remains out of control. It says there are several fires in that area.

"It's 20 hectares in size. It's about two kilometres inland from Lillooet Lake [and] it's above some pretty steep terrain," Donna MacPherson, fire information officer for the Coastal Fire Centre said.

The service says crews were not able to battle the blaze, which requires air support, because of low-lying fog.

What to do

The designated evacuation route for those affected is north along the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road toward the Village of Pemberton.

Emergency accommodations are available at the Pemberton Valley Lodge.