New wildfire in B.C.’s central Interior sparks evacuation order in parts of Cariboo

A new out-of-control wildfire in British Columbia’s Interior has sparked a mandatory evacuation order in an area approximately 600 kilometres north of Vancouver.

The Cariboo Regional District says the Tzenzaicut Lake wildfire discovered on Saturday has become enough of a threat that an evacuation order has been issued for an area west of Highway 97 between Quesnel and Williams Lake.

A wider zone around the evacuation area – just south of the community of Baker Creek – has been placed on alert.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Tzenzaicut blaze remains relatively small at about 1 square kilometre but has doubled in size since Saturday evening, and fire crews say the blaze was likely ignited by a lightning strike or other natural means.