Downton Lake 2023 Wildfire Recovery

Thank you for visiting the SLRD’s Downton Lake wildfire recovery website. This site was launched in late 2023 to provide a central location for recovery-related updates. As we enter the second year of recovery, the site will remain available for affected residents to access information, resources, and frequently asked questions.

The SLRD Board, CAO and recovery team would like to acknowledge both challenges faced as well as progress made by this community. Recognizing recovery is an ongoing journey, we remain committed to assisting you as best we are able throughout this process.

We encourage you to connect with the appropriate avenues for support as outlined on each information page, and you can still reach us directly at recovery@slrd.bc.ca. As collaboration with affected residents, government and agency partners continues, we will send important updates to our email newsletter subscribers, as always.

Latest Updates

More than 80,000 seedlings will be planted: Residents in the area are encouraged to sign up soon in order to participate in this program. Through a partnership between the SLRD, Cariboo Carbon Solutions (CCS), and Tree Canada, 80,000 seedlings have been sown and will be planted on private lands in Electoral Area A in 2026, at no cost to participating landowners. Site-specific planting plans tailored to each unique property will be finalized this summer. To ensure proper planning, interested residents should sign up no later than the end of June.

The reforestation program, launched in the aftermath of the 2023 Downton Lake wildfire, supports ecological restoration on fire-affected private properties. With 40 landowners already signed up, the project is a major step forward in recovery and climate resiliency in the Upper Bridge River Valley. Read the news release sent on May 26, 2025.

Recovery Operations Summary: Director of Protective Services, Mark Phillips, and Jaya Bremer, outgoing Recovery Coordinator, presented a summary report of the 2023 wildfire recovery efforts, highlighting lessons learned and best practices for future recovery measures. As the largest recovery operation in SLRD history, the lessons learned, including challenges and successes, will strengthen SLRD recovery efforts of the future. Read the full report.

Virtual Community Recovery Town Hall: The Town Hall took place on Tuesday, October 8 from 4-5 p.m. Watch the full video replay of the meeting on the SLRD's YouTube channel.

July 2024 - Red Cross Support Available: The Canadian Red Cross announced additional recovery support in July 2024, to assist people impacted by the 2023 BC Wildfires. Support may include understanding insurance and community resources, financial assistance to access mental health services, as well as providing referrals and information to help people make decisions and inform their next steps. The Canadian Red Cross is also working with primary residence homeowners who have been unable to return to their home, to provide financial support for housing repair and reconstruction. More information can be found in this Red Cross document. We encourage you to reach out to them directly to learn more and apply, at BCFires2023@redcross.ca or 1-833-966-4225 (Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. PT).

For more information visit: