Immediate fire danger has been mitigated for the River Valley area, after the wildfire back on July 21st.
The City of Williams Lake is reminding residents that it continues to be an active emergency response zone, and remains closed until further notice.
City Emergency Operations Centre Director, Brendan Foote said “once we receive geotechnical assessment and address danger trees burned or compromised in the fire, we can begin to chart a path forward for reopening, but as of now it is not safe for members of the public to be recreating in the River Valley.”
The City also downgraded its Emergency Operations Centre yesterday (August 2nd) from a Level 3 to a Level 1, and the State of Local Emergency will expire on Sunday, August 4th.
BC Wildfire Service crews are working on mopping up remaining hot spots, further danger tree falling is ongoing and heavy machinery may be working in the area in the days and weeks to come.
The City is now working toward the recovery phase of the emergency and continue to monitor the area moving forward.
They said since the fire, the remaining hot spots have decreased from over 1,000 in the days following to fewer than 10 as of August 2nd.
Updates will continue to be provided as they become available through its Emergency Operation Centre.
More information about the recovery phase can be found on the City of Williams Lake’s website here.
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