Some northern British Columbia ranchers are ready to evacuate livestock from their ranches if the fire threat grows.
Pam Gunderson, of the Beryl Prairie area northwest of Hudson’s Hope said they have pushed their cattle into a smaller area, but are holding off moving the 350 cattle and calves, hoping fires don’t reach their ranch.
“We decided we would wait before evacuating,” said Gunderson.
The Mount McAllister Fire, which forced the evacuation of 1,000 people from Hudson’s Hope, south of their ranch, July 16 is estimated to be 40,000 acres in size.
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Gunderson said they are keeping a close watch on the fire, but hope rain that fell July 17 will slow the fire and stop it from jumping the Williston Dam and onto their property.
RCMP delivered evacuation notices to people in the area, but Gunderson said most of the ranch families have stayed.
“A lot of people stayed. They have a lot of animals to look after,” she said.
Sharon Jackson, also north of Hudson’s Hope, said they received an evacuation order to leave their home.
“The RCMP left a mandatory evacuation card in the door, but we’re not going anywhere,” she said.
Jackson said she would move some of their cows and horses out of the evacuation area, in case the fire begins to move quickly.
“We do have plans in place.”
With the help of Fort St. John residents, Sherry Lafournie, moved six horses and two dogs from her farm east of Hudson’s Hope to a friend’s home in Taylor, near the Alberta border.
“I had tears in my eyes when they showed up,” she said.
RCMP had closed Highway 29 south of Hudson’s Hope, which had been her original route to safety.
“I felt hopeless, I felt lost,” she said, when she learned the highway leaving her area was about to close.
“You take things for granted. You don’t think the fire will get this close to you. This has opened my eyes,” she said.
Lafournie can still stay at home, but was warned to stay alert to the fire information.
Stacy Ollenberger, of Fort St. John, was one of the people who helped move Lafournie’s animals, out of danger.
“Everyone wanted to help out in whatever way they can,” she said.
Ollenberger, a member of the North Peace Lighthorse club, said they have offered to board evacuated horses at their Fort St. John facility, but have not yet had srequests.
There are 140 fires burning across B.C.
