BARKERVILLE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — The British Columbia gold rush town of Barkerville is drenched, both from overnight rains and sprinklers dousing its timber buildings, some more than 150 years old.
It's part of an effort to save the historic park that is one of the Cariboo region's premier tourist attractions from the flames of the Antler Creek wildfire that is burning out of control about three kilometres away, said Stewart Cawood, Barkerville's public programming and media manager.
Environment Canada's lightning tracker showed significant activity overnight stretching from Kamloops in the southern Interior through the Rockies and Cariboo regions into the Peace River area and the province's northwest. He said only BC wildfire crews and specially trained staff remained at the town, which was established in 1862 when prospector William Barker struck gold. The town's website says it features more than 125 heritage buildings, and it was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1924.
Silverton, B.C., Mayor Tanya Gordon said the weather had cleared smoke near the Central Kootenay village, but it has added to residents' anxiety because people can now easily see Aylwin and Komondo Creek fires burning just south of the community. Nearby fires have forced the closures of Highway 1 south of Cache Creek, Highway 26 near Wells and Barkerville, and Highway 6 south of Silverton.
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