News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

While freshet flooding is the current focus in some parts of the province, increasing temperatures are making wildfires an emerging threat in other regions.

During Emergency Preparedness Week, British Columbians are reminded to begin planning now for the summer wildfire season.

(Photo by: Christine Rosche, and courtesy of the BC Fire Service of the Meldrum Creek fire 2010)

The Ashcroft and RCMP Central Interior Traffic Services are continuing their investigation into a three-vehicle collision which took the lives of two drivers on Monday.

The collision occurred on Highway #1 just north of Spences Bridge, when a commercial 'B-train' tractor unit overturned and slid into the oncoming lane. (A 'B-train' unit refers to a truck pulling two trailers in tandem.)

At around 11:30am on Monday May 7,  the Ashcroft RCMP along with fire and ambulance services attended to the collision at the Kingsway corner area of Highway #1, between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft. Traffic investigators and the local fire department closed the highway until approximately 7:30pm, as a result.

On May 1, the North District Integrated Marijuana Enforcement Task Force (NDIME) members of the Quesnel RCMP, Williams Lake RCMP and Prince George Police Dog Services executed a search warrant at a rural residence on Rainbow Road of Quesnel B.C.

RCMP entered the residence and located a large marihuana grow operation. The residence did not have any furniture and the entire building was being used solely for the purpose of producing marijuana.

(Photo of front porch.  Click to enlarge image.  Provided by the RCMP.)

The BC Coroners Service has confirmed that one worker from the Lakeland sawmill in Prince George has died following an explosion and fire at the mill.

The worker was one of 25 who were working in the sawmill when it exploded in a giant fireball shortly before 9:45pm on April 23.

Prince George Fire Crews and the RCMP continue to maintain a perimeter on River Road after an explosion occurred at the Lakeland Sawmill in Prince George B.C.

On April 23, 2012 at approximately 9:38 PM the Prince George Fire Department were called to a report of an explosion at the Lakeland Sawmills located on River Road in Prince George B.C.  Emergency crews, BC Ambulance and Prince George RCMP attended the scene to find the Sawmill engulfed in flames.

Northern Health called a Code Orange at 10:00pm on Monday, April 23, 2012 at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) in Prince George, BC.

25 patients have been treated.  Three patients will be transferred by air ambulance from UHNBC to Vancouver.

Their conditions range in severity.

This information is preliminary and may change.

A reputable Prince George news source is reporting that a large explosion ocurred at the Lakeland Mills in Prince George at approximately 9:40pm.

Injuries are unconfirmed at this time.

The news website refers to a YouTube video which shows flames and emergency response vehicles arriving at an unconfirmed location, said to be Lakeland Mills.  "I felt my house shake from the initial explosion," one person commented under the video.

The news source also reports that a 'code orange' has been declared at the University Hospital of Northern BC. A 'code orange' is defined by the Ministry of Health Services to be used in cases of 'disaster or mass casualties'.  A 'code orange' was recently used in Burns Lake, BC following the Babine Lake Forest Products mill explosion.

The Premier today announced an additional investment to the Cariboo Connector expansion, to widen 30 km of Highway 97 to four lanes between Prince George and Cache Creek.

"Expanding our transportation network is key to sustaining economic growth and protecting and creating jobs across our province," said Premier Clark. "This further investment in the Cariboo Connector will make sure our goods are getting to market faster while stimulating the local economy and providing local jobs."

(Click on the image above to visit the government's Cariboo Connector webpage.)

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson announced today that Superintendent Rod Booth has been appointed to the position of North District Commander and will be promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent.

Rod Booth’s appointment as Officer in Charge, Chief Superintendent of North District is very positive news for our entire region, says Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond. Rod has spent many years of his policing career in British Columbia and is highly regarded in the RCMP and beyond. I am confident that Rod will demonstrate the kind of leadership that will enhance the safety of our Northern Communities.

The North District RCMP is hosting the first Advanced Criminal Crash Investigative Team course in Prince George this week.  Course candidates from around the Province are in Prince George  to learn the latest in electronic major case management.

This course will introduce the candidates to the principles of major case management, which includes new facets of file documentation, evidence disclosure and an electronic format primarily used by the major crime teams.  This is vastly different from the current practices. The Office of Investigative Standards, from 'E' Division Headquarters, is facilitating the course.