Almost 59,000 acres of land have burned to date
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
All some British Columbians can do is wait as wildfires continue, according to Andy Witteman, a rancher from near Williams Lake and 100 Mile House.
“We’re waiting it out to see where the fires go,” he told CTV News Channel yesterday. “We’re surrounded. We just don’t know where to go.”
As of yesterday, 220 wildfires burned across the Coastal, Northwest, Prince George, Kamloops, Southeast and Cariboo regions. And many of these fires remain out of control.
In total, nearly 59,000 acres of land have burned. More than 1,000 firefighters are managing the blazes and members of the Canadian army are lending assistance to those in need.
More than 8,000 people left their homes, and the B.C. government has declared a provincial state of emergency.
The largest fire is near Taseko Lake Rd. and is estimated to be about 17,297 acres in size, according to the latest B.C. statistics.
Producers are taking the necessary precautions to ensure their animals are safe.
Witteman left the gates to his farm open so his animals could escape and find water if the flames come through, according to CTV.
“There’s no fire there right now, it’s just (that) you can’t see down or up,” he said.
Help from Fort McMurray
Residents of Fort McMurray, Alta., who faced devastating wildfires last year, are also lending assistance to those in need in British Columbia.
“We’re trying to load up as much supplies as we can to help out with the evacuated horses, livestock and to help out any of the people that are camping out and trying to be with their livestock,” Joey Abram, a volunteer, told CTV News Vancouver.
If you wish to donate to the relief efforts in British Columbia, visit the Red Cross or text “FIRES” to 45678 to make a $10 donation.
The Prince George Horse Society is also housing animals displaced by the fires.