Quesnel area residents scrambled to save belongings when fire jumped the Fraser River

QUESNEL — When Ty Lucas got into cellphone range after a backcountry trip in the south coast of B.C., dozens of waiting messages alerted him to the fact his home south of this city had come close to burning down.
A fire west of the Fraser River jumped to the east side of the river on Friday, July 7, a fire sparked by lightning as with other blazes all through the Cariboo.
Family and friends mobilized immediately to help move vehicles and other valuables as the fire advanced Friday evening.