Evacuation Order for Logan Lake; No lodging available in Merritt
LOGAN LAKE – The community of Logan Lake is being ordered to evacuate as the Tremont Creek wildfire moves towards the community.
Mayor Robin Smith made the declaration at 3:30 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 12).The order states RCMP will enforce the evacuation of the community.
The mayor has also declared a Local State of Emergency for the community. The State of Emergency gives authorities the right to take every action necessary to fight the fire and protect people and the community.
Residents are being advised to evacuate along Highway 97C to Merritt. A secondary evacuation escape route is along Highway 97C to Ashcroft. However residents are being warned to avoid Highway 97D on the Meadow Creek Road to Kamloops.
The Tremont Creek wildfire has been burning aggressively over the last day and expanding to the north and to the south towards the Logan Lake area.The City of Merritt has released a statement confirming the community is ready to receive evacuees.“The City of Merritt is assisting the Logan Lake and surrounding area residents with their evacuation due to the Tremont Creek Wildfire.
“The Emergency Social Service building located at 1721 Coldwater Avenue is OPEN as a reception point for evacuees.
No lodging is available and evacuees are being directed from Merritt to Chilliwack. Evacuees can still register in Merritt and collect gas cards to help with transit to Chilliwack.
“The goal is to work collaboratively to support evacuees by getting them in to the most suitable accommodation possible. Group lodging is an option, though with 2,500 people being evacuated and with private commercial lodging opportunities available in other communities, those accommodation opportunities are prioritized. Given the smoke levels in our community, outdoor camping is also a concern.”
“We’ve already taken a lot of fire evacuees this fire season… but unfortunately this means we are in a position where we do not have the resources available for the Logan Lake evacuees to stay in Merritt,” added Greg Lowis, Director of Corporate Services.
The ESS Reception Centre in Chilliwack is at Chilliwack Senior Secondary on 46363 Yale Road.
More to come
(with files from Dave Barry/CFJC)
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