Map shows areas currently under evacuation order and alert – photo courtesy Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako

Prince George, B.C. – The Evacuation Order issued by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako near the China Nose fire has been greatly reduced.

The evacuation order rescinded and issued Friday at 1 pm covered the area from Knockholt landfill on Aitken Road south to Equity Mine Road East to Decker Maxan Road north to North Road across Highway 16 20218 North Road west to and including Montgomery Road.

The evacuation alert issued yesterday has also been rescinded and covered the area from the municipal boundary of the District of Houston from 4728 Bellicini Road and 4411 McKilligan Road east along the Highway 16 east corridor to the Highway 16 intersection with Montgomery Road including all roads connected to Highway 16.

It also affected the area east of the North Road Forest Service Road and the Decker Maxan Road along the Highway 16 corridor including all roads connected to Highway 16 to the municipal boundary of the Village of Burns Lake at Nash Road 1740 including Murphy Road and Miller Road.

However a new evacuation alert has been issued for the following areas:

From the municipal boundary of the District of Houston from 4728 Bellicini Rd and 4411 McKilligan Rd. east along the Highway 16 corridor to the western Boundary of the Village of Burns Lake at 1740 Nash Rd. including Murphy Road and Miller Road. Including the communities of Topley, Rose Lake, Palling and Decker Lake. All roads connected to Highway 16. and including portions of Thomson Rd, Decker-Maxan Rd. and Fisher Rd.

And as of today an Evacuation Order has been issued for the following areas:

South from 9840 Heading Creek FSR, North to Gilmore Lake FSR and Sunset FSR intersection, west to the Snow Mobile Cabin on Equity Mine Road, east to and including Crow Creek Road beyond the train tracks, east to 22387 and 22507, north including the entirety of the Rose Lake Cutoff Rd. Including Day Lake Road, southern portions of the Forest Dale Canyon Road, northern portion of the Maxan Creek FSR to the south west portion of the Decker-Maxan Rd. Including Bulkley Lake, Day Lake, Elwin Lake and Maxan Lake.

Regional District Chair Bill Miller says the changes mean 15 homes are under an evacuation order while around 500 or so are under an alert.

He says fire crews have made good progress on the 3,700 hectare fire the past 24 hours and were helped along by lighter winds.

The break in the weather has also reopened traffic along Highway 16 and led to the resumption of CN Rail service.

For more information go to www.rdbn.bc.ca