Burns Lake fair cancelled over fire concerns

People have been displaced, homes and other buildings have been burned, and now the region's forest fires have cost the public a cultural event.

The Lakes District Fall Fair (LDFF) in Burns Lake announced on Tuesday that it would not go ahead with this year's event, despite there being no direct threat to that town. The Nadina Lake, Shovel Lake, Island Lake, Verdun Mountain, Cheslatta Lake and several other fires are all around Burns Lake, however, and the LDFF grounds have become one of the intake centres for refugee livestock.

"The current displacement of residents from their homes, disruptions to normal routines, and uncertainty about the extent and duration of the current wildfires make it impossible for Fall Fair Association members to concentrate their energy on the 2018 Fall Fair," said a statement from the all-volunteer board of directors.

"The Fall Fair Association believes the same factors would make many potential exhibitors, performers, volunteers and patrons unable to participate in the fair on September 7th, 8th and 9th. Accordingly, the Fall Fair Association has very reluctantly decided to cancel the 2018 Lakes District Fall Fair."

The association apologized for any inconvenience the cancellation may cause.

This would have been the LDFF's 75th anniversary edition. The organization had strong momentum based on a highly successful fundraiser in July when the RCMP Musical Ride did a pair of performances there.

"When the time is right in our community, the Fall Fair Association and its volunteers will join in efforts to support community members who have suffered losses due to the wildfires. Together, we will celebrate our community's resilience and unconquerable spirit," the organizers said.

"In the meantime, with the rest of the Lakes District community our thoughts and our energies will go into working with firefighters, first responders, elected officials, property owners and volunteers to ensure the fires get under control, and that the Lakes District community gets back to normal routines as quickly as possible."