Fire forces 'hectic' evacuation in northern B.C.

The 3,500 residents of Tumbler Ridge barely had time topack their photographs into their pickups before they fled the northern B.C. town, after a forest fire forced its evacuation.

Dean Fenn, a spokesman for theB.C. Forest Service, said early Tuesday afternoon that the fire had grown to 11,000 hectares and had raced toabout five kilometres north of the mining town, which is about 160 kilometres northeast of Prince George.

Theevacuation order was issued Monday. Tumbler Ridge residents were toldto go to the nearby communities of Chetwynd and Dawson Creek and to bring enough clothing and supplies for two or three days.

Roger Legault, whohas lived in the communityfor four years, said he filled his truck with photographs.

"Actually, it was all pretty quick. We all got out of town and I thought it was fairly efficient. And quick because originally it was just an alert, and then pretty quick after that — bang— it was time to go."

The fire, discovered June 29, is one of four burning near Tumbler Ridge.

'It was pretty hectic all over town'

Glenn Miller said he gathered up pictures and boxes of his coin collection before fleeing the town.

'Originally it was just an alert, and then pretty quick after that — bang— it was time to go.' -Roger Legault, who packed his pickup full of photographs before fleeing Tumbler Ridge

"Everybody was trying to fuel up and it was pretty hectic all over town," he said.

Miller saidthe highway leading out of the town was congestedwith a big lineup of cars stretching "miles and miles."

Winds pushed flames near town

Mike Caisley, the town's mayor, told CBC News that major shifts in the wind had brought fires closer to Tumbler Ridge.

"We've declared a state of local emergency and with that comes an evacuation order that we issued for all of our residents of Tumbler Ridge due to some fires that are happening within our immediate area, one in basically close proximity," Caisley said.

"We wanted to make that decision while we had daylight here as opposed to having to make it in darkness."

Helicopters andfire crews have been fighting the four fires, which were caused by lightning and exacerbated by hot, dry conditions.

Fenn said only a few people had stayed behindin Tumbler Ridge but patrols were keeping watch in the town.

"The police are here. The fire department is out and we've got some of our unit crews out as well."

Fenn said the winds were calm early on Tuesday afternoon but warned there could be more thunderstorms. He said the heat was expected to end sometime on Tuesday, with the temperature dropping by 10 degrees on Wednesday and four degrees on Thursday.

Forecasters also expect rain for Wednesday.