According to local rancher Will Unruh, whose property received an evacuation order on Friday, the situation requires immediate coordination between livestock owners and regional emergency crews to move animals out of harm’s way.
The Pear Lake wildfire has expanded to cover 900 square kilometers, prompting extensive evacuation alerts and orders across the region. As a cold front brings high winds and dry conditions to southern British Columbia, regional districts and First Nations are working urgently to secure threatened communities and agricultural operations.
Evacuating Livestock Under Threat in the Cariboo Region
Will Unruh’s 777 Ranch near the Cariboo region became the focus of a major rescue effort after the Thompson-Nicola Regional District offered specialized assistance for his livestock. According to Unruh, an unexpected team arrived Thursday to load 30 head of cattle and five horses onto transport trucks bound for Kamloops. Unruh’s remaining 13 bison presented a distinct challenge due to their unpredictable behavior in confined spaces. Unruh told reporters that the bison are visibly anxious, noting that they stay close to his permanent location because they are nervous.
Unruh consulted a retired forestry engineer to evaluate natural safety zones on his property. While designated safe zones exist on the ranch, Unruh also considered releasing the bison onto Crown land if conditions deteriorated. Unruh also coordinated with another bison ranch located north in Quesnel to determine the safest transport strategy as weather patterns shift.
Weather Shifts and Regional Evacuation Orders
The BC Wildfire Service issued warnings regarding an approaching cold front carrying strong winds, thunderstorms, and minimal precipitation over the long weekend. According to regional tracking data, wind gusts near the Pear Lake fire zone could reach 45 km/h, significantly increasing the spread rate across drought-stricken timber.
The Thompson-Nicola and Cariboo regional districts issued orders spanning an area over 70 kilometers long and 65 kilometers wide, impacting more than 1,800 properties. Indigenous communities face similar threats as multiple fires advance:
- Spuzzum First Nation: Issued an evacuation order for reserve lands due to the Brunswick Creek wildfire burning further south.
- Fraser Valley Regional District: Ordered evacuations for properties stretching from Alexandra Bridge to Sawmill Creek.
- T’it’q’et First Nation: Issued an overnight evacuation order near Lillooet due to the Riley Creek wildfire affecting reserves numbered two and three.
Provincial tallies show nearly 110 active wildfires burning across British Columbia, with 48 classified as out of control.
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