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UPDATE: Wildfires continue to burn in Williams Lake

An evacuation has already been issued for Wildwood, Soda Creek and Fox Mountain
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Aerial view south of Williams Lake Friday afternoon shows dry lightning storm passing over, leaving fire starts behind. Lightning sparked more than 100 new fires Friday. (Black Press)

UPDATE 10:25 p.m.: An evacuation order has been extended to include the area north of Hwy. 20 between Alexis Creek and the Fraser River, west of the Fraser River to West Fraser Road and Roddie Road, as well as directly west 55 kilometres to 90 kilometres directly north of Alexis Creek.

Earlier on Sunday, BC Transit announced that it would be ceasing bus service in Williams Lake.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON:

The wildfire near Sugar Cane, 1-kilometre north of Chief William is now estimated at 1,000 hectares in size, according to BC Wildfire Services.

Meanwhile, the fire near Spoken Lake Road has grown to 300 hectares.

The wildfire in the Wildwood/Williams Lake Airport area holds at 2,000 hectares in size.

RELATED: What to do if you’re evacuated

More evacuation orders have been issued, as wildfires surrounding Williams Lake continue to burn.

An evacuation has been issued by the Cariboo Regional District for Wildwood, Soda Creek and Fox Mountain.

An evacuation alert has been issued for the north Lakeside area of Williams Lake. An evacuation alert has been issued for White Road, Ross Road, and Glenn Road earlier Sunday.

An evacuation alert remains for the South Lakeside area. Evacuations were ordered for the Miocene area and Wildwood area of Williams Lake Friday, and Lexington Subdivision on Saturday.

Two evacuation orders have been issued for 150 Mile House.

The communities of Alexis Creek and Hanceville are the newest evacuation orders from the Cariboo Regional District.

There are currently several smaller fires burning in the Chilcotin, around Hanceville, at “encompass an total area of 100,000 hectares,” according to the BC Wildfire Service as of Saturday night.

Trouble started at Hanceville Friday afternoon, when a lightning storm swept through the region.

The fire claimed historic Lee’s Corner store Friday night, and is burning in the Raven Lake area. Power has been out since yesterday, when powerlines were burnt down.

Residents from nearby Anaham Reserve had already been evacuated to Alexis Creek, and are now apart of the evacuation order which will see these rural residents travelling through Williams Lake and onto evacuation centres in Prince George.

RELATED: Weary travellers pass through Quesnel, out of fire zone

As many as 30 additional RCMP members from across the province will to assist with evacuations in the region.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Del Bryon said there will be ten police check points set up between Fox Mountain Road and 150 Mile House.

Stone Reserve residents were also evacuated Friday night, but to Williams Lake.

The Chilcotin is a vast area with many ranches and lodges and First Nations communities.