A plan is in place to see all Telegraph Creek wildfire evacuees home by Christmas.
The remote village of roughly 300 people in Northern B.C. has been under an evacuation order since early August when the massive Alkali Lake wildfire ripped through the area, consuming homes, businesses and more than 120,000 hectares of forest and vital wildlife habitat.
The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) announced in press release this morning the first of the displaced residents, currently scattered throughout B.C. and Yukon, will return Nov. 15 with the remainder hopefully in their homes by Dec. 20.
含羞草研究社淭he EOC [Emergency Operations Centre] has been working tirelessly to make a return to Telegraph Creek possible,含羞草研究社� Feddie Louie, Tahltan EOC director and recovery manager said. 含羞草研究社淭he specific return date will depend on when each home has been cleaned of smoke damage and is refurbished.含羞草研究社�
Twenty-seven structures were lost in Telegraph Creek, including 21 homes, two businesses, a daycare and a church. The majority of structures left standing were impacted with significant fire, water, or smoke damage. Combined losses on surrounding land in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine total more than 160 structures, including fish camps, historical sites, grave sites and seasonal cottages.
No lives were lost in the fires.
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Canada含羞草研究社檚 minister of Indigenous Services, Jane Philpott, toured the area mid October along with representatives from the Assembly of First Nations and the B.C. First Nations Health Authority. In a Facebook post Philpott called Telegraph Creek the 含羞草研究社渆picentre含羞草研究社� of B.C.含羞草研究社檚 worst wildfire season on record.
含羞草研究社淭he Tahltan Nation itself incurred the worst structural damage caused by wildfires of any First Nations community in recorded Canadian history,含羞草研究社� she wrote.
含羞草研究社淸Tahltan Band] Chief Rick McLean and his team have shown the most remarkable leadership and resilience in the face of this tragedy.含羞草研究社�
Since BC Wildfire Service downgraded the fire late August, power and telephone lines, drinking water and septic facilities have all needed extensive assessment and repairs. Crews have also been clearing danger trees and other hazards, inspecting slope stability and repairing the highway 含羞草研究社� Telegraph Creek含羞草研究社檚 only access road.
From the early stages of the evacuation public donations of every sort, including food, water, fuel, clothing and household items, started arriving by the truckload from across B.C. to distribution centres in Terrace and Dease Lake. A large sum of cash donations, including $87,000 from a benefit concert held last month in Whitehorse, YT, was also made to the TCG from individuals and businesses across the country.
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含羞草研究社淥ne of the things that I have learned is that you really see the true colours of people during a crisis,含羞草研究社� Chief McLean said. 含羞草研究社淚 am overwhelmed by the love and support the Tahltan Nation has received. Thank you to all volunteers, donors and to those who have assisted.含羞草研究社�
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