Northwest wildfire consumes some structures at Telegraph Creek, residents evacuated around Northwest

The community of Telegraph Creek Northwest of Terrace is suffering
significant damage today as a wildfire burns across the region

The 2018 Wildfire season is wreaking some extreme damage in the Northwest, with the community of Telegraph Creek currently at the centre of the fire storm that is consuming vast tracts of forest in the region.

The expansion of the Alkali Lake wildfire had the community on evacuation order as of August 5th, with the fire accelerating towards Telegraph Creek over the long weekend.

The Most recent update on the situation has seen hundreds of people from the area relocated many of them to Dease Lake and other communities, with some residents taking to the water on the Stikine River to escape the approaching fire.

So far the BC WildFire Service has confirmed that some structures have been lost in the town site, but they have not identified the nature of the buildings to this point, the most recent estimate was that 27 structures had been consumed by fire.

The fire is reported to have been started by lightning. Highw winds and continued dry conditions have made for some challenging moments for the crews in the area.

The most recent notice advised that 78 fire fighters, 9 helicopters and 15 pieces of heavy equipment were being used on the fire.

The Tahltan Central Government has provided this update, outlining the current status for the community and where those in need of assistance can turn to.

An advisory from the Tahltan Central Government
on the Fire near Telegraph Creek
(click to enlarge)

As well, the Tahltan Central Government also provided some information for those in the Northwest wishing to make a donation to the Thaltan nation related on ongoing fire disaster, you can learn more about how you can do so below:

How you can help out the Tahtlan Nation in response to the fire
(click to enlarge)

The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has also delivered the most recent notes on the situation which you can review here.

Communities around the Northwest are also providing for their own assistance and donation plans to provide for those that have been forced out of the Telegraph Creek area, as the details become available we will outlined those plans further.

Kitsumkalum is making preparations to receive evacuees from the Telegraph Creek area.

Telegraph Crerek is 690 kilometres northwest of Terrace, the average drive between the two communities is close to 11 hours.

Updates on the Telegraph Creek Fire situation can be found below:

August 7 -- Structural protection units to stay in Telegraph Creek overnight while heavy equipment clears Highway 51
August 7 -- 27 structures destroyed by Wildfires in Telegraph Creek area
August 7 -- Fire destroys 27 structures in Telegraph Creek
August 7 -- Telegraph Creek evacuated (video)
August 7 -- 27 structures lost in 'volatile' northern BC wildfire
August 7 -- 27 structures in Telegraph Creek area lost to fire
August 7 -- Buildings destroyed in Telegraph Creek area as wildfires rage in Northern BC
August 7 -- Tahltan Band chief says anxiety rising over unconfirmed social media posts
August 7 -- Kitsumkalum Hall opens for Telegraph Creek evacuees
August 7 -- Wildfire Devestates Telegraph Creek
August 7 -- Northwest wildfire consumes some structures at Telegraph Creek, residents evacuated around Northwest  NCR
August 7 -- Telegraph Creek Evacuated as Wildfires Spread
August 7 -- 27 structures in Telegraph Creek area lost to fire
August 7 -- Buildings destroyed in Telegraph Creek area
August 6 -- Tahltan Central Government says Deas Lake and Iskut preparing as wildfires rage
August 6 -- Fires grow in Telegraph Creek
August 6 -- Latest communities evacuated include Telegraph Creek
August 6 -- Yukon MLA helps family and friends leave fire-threatened Telegraph Creek
August 5 -- Telegraph Creek under evacuation order

You can keep up with the changing nature of events from our archive on Northwest wildfires here.


To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.