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HATCHERY RELEASE P. 2-4 EDITORIAL P. 6
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HISTORIC SOCIETY P. 5 NULKI HILLS WIND FARM P. 10
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Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Evacuation order issued for Little Bobtail Lake fire Rebecca Watson
Omineca Express A fire burning two-and-a-half kilometers south of Norman Lake has resulted in an evacuation of 80 residents. The Ministry of Forests’ Wildfire Management Branch (WMB) issued the order Sunday, May 10 because of the growing fire estimated, as of Monday afternoon, to be 2,700 hectares in size. WMB officer, Jill Kelsh, said the fire will likely continue to grow. “It’s hard to say how long it might last but based on the sunny forecast we are expecting it will stay active and it’s about getting [residents out] and the resources there,” Kelsh said. The effected area starts at the intersection of the Bobtail FSR and the Blackwater Road, south to the Bobtail Connector FSR, including all lands to the eastern boundary of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Electoral Area ‘F’ (Vanderhoof Rural), including the Little Bobtail Lake, Naltesby Lake, and Eulatazella Lake. An alert is also in place for areas north and west of Bednesti Lake and Berman Lake area. Residents within the evacuation order area must leave immediately and register at the closest Reception Centre located at the Vanderhoof arena at 340 Columbia St. East. Fraser Fort George also has an evacuation order in place that actually goes across the regional district boundary, Bill Miller, chair of the RDBN said. “It’s bigger than just our region. We also have an alert area beyond the evacuation area as well,” Miller said. “It goes north as far as HWY 16 and goes west as far as Sob Lake road. The eastern boundary for the RDBN is the eastern boundary with Fraser Fort George encompassing Cluculz Lake.” Continued on page 2
Photo by Rebecca Watson
SWIM FISHY: Selena Fitzgerald, 10, gently places ‘Survivor’ into one of two fish slides at Riverside Park during the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre’s fish release May 4. Read more on page 2 & 4 and see pictures on page 3.
49th Anniversary
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