Safe haven in Prince George
WILDFIRE EVACUEES: Hundreds coming to city with horses, dogs and belongings in tow
PRINCE GEORGE — Chad Braaten headed into work last Friday for the evening shift at West Fraser Sawmills in Williams Lake.
At the mill, from the roof, workers could see smoke from wildfires all around.
Their shift lasted about 15 minutes.
Workers were called into the lunchroom where they were told: “Go home, save your houses.”
Braaten went to his family’s 60-acre property at 150 Mile House, east of Williams Lake, where he, his brother Cody, mom Kelly and dad Darrell loaded up two horse trailers with eight horses. They also packed up an RV hooked up to a truck and loaded their four dogs and as many things as they could think to bring, including a chainsaw and other tools.
By that time, lightning his father had seen earlier in the day appeared to spark more fires in the tinder-dry forest surrounding their home.
On the way into Williams Lake, where they spent the night at the Stampede camp grounds with other evacuees, they saw huge flames behind the 153 Mile Ranch. “It was pretty scary,” Braaten said. They made the decision — because of the continuing smoke and reports of more fires — to head north to Prince George to seek safety and sanctuary.
They are now holed up at the Prince George Exhibition Grounds, a facility that includes stables and riding areas. The Braatens were welcomed by volunteers who provided space and food and helped unload their horses.
Their story is similar to many others who have fled to Prince George.
The city of 80,000, normally about a 3 1/2-hour drive from 150 Mile House, is the nearest large community north on Highway 97 not threatened immediately by wildfire.
Highway 97, the main road north, is closed south of Quesnel to south-travelling traffic.
Hundreds of other evacuees — from Williams Lake and the 150 Mile House and 100 Mile House areas — have also headed to Prince George where they are being housed at emergency centres at the College of New Caledonia and the University of Northern B.C.
At the latest count Monday, 800 people had registered at the emergency centres, but more evacuees are believed to be in Prince George, in spots such as the exhibition grounds, and organizers are preparing for more evacuees. Cots are also being set up in a local high school, Prince George Secondary School, said Mike Kellett, an information officer with the City of Prince George’s emergency operations centre.
Food and medical help is available at the emergency centres, as well as emotional support.
In addition, individual community members have been offering space in their homes or RVs, and fenced yards for evacuees’ animals.
“There’s been a massive outpouring of support,” Kellett said.
At the Prince George Exhibition Grounds, Leona Janot was dropping off hay for evacuated horses Monday afternoon with the help of her friend Corey Mooney.
Janot said she lost her house and barn in an electrical fire 18 months ago — now replaced — so she knew well the effect fire can have on a family. Also, her parents in Cache Creek were evacuated to Kelowna.
“It’s a disaster,” Janot said. “It’s what we do — we help out.”
In folding chairs set up between their RV and horse trailers on the exhibition grounds, Kelly and Darrell Braaten said the help the family has received in Prince George has been overwhelming.
“The community is absolutely fantastic,” said Kelly, noting they also had help in Quesnel on the drive up. Now, however, they wait. They are hoping their home survived the fire after word yesterday that a neighbour’s house was intact, but they don’t know for sure. “It’s surreal,” Kelly said. Added Darrell: “It’s like living in a disaster movie.”
The eight horses the Braatens moved to the exhibition grounds are among nearly 60 that have arrived so far as part of the escape from wildfires south of the city.
Chelsea Wallach, a barrel horse racer from Prince George, whose family helps run the Prince George Horse Society, helped organize a caravan of horse trailers to travel to 150 Mile House and Williams Lake Sunday night to evacuate horses.
They brought up 29 horses and undertook another expedition Monday evening.
Wallach said everyone she phoned for help agreed to go, no questions asked.
“The horse community is a big family, so if one of us is in need we are all in need,” she said.
She said she believed there were hundreds of horses that needed evacuation, including possibly in the Quesnel area where wildfires have also flared up.
Among those that have also brought their horses north from Williams Lake are Kristen Riddle and Morgan Black.
On the Minton Creek Ranch, where Black lives, ashes and embers were falling from the surrounding fires. Ranch crews were putting out any sparks. “The fire was so close,” she said. Eyeing a possible long evacuation period or possible worsening of the situation, the pair is even considering taking their horses to Alberta.
“You have to have an exit strategy,” Riddle said.