New evacuation orders have been issued in relation to the Sparks Lake wildfire, northwest of Kamloops.

People in nine properties on the north side of Kamloops Lake across from Savona that were on evacuation alert were told to leave their homes yesterday after fire activity challenged control lines.

“Airtankers provided support on the west flank near Split Rock, while helicopters worked in the Frog Lake area on the east flank,” the BC Wildfire Service said, in an update.

The properties impacted are as follows:

• 1280 to 2245 Copper Creek Rd;
• 2040 to 3672 Sabiston Creek Rd;
• 320 to 360 Savona Dump Rd;
• 7788 to 7821 Savona Station Rd; and
• any other properties identified on the attached map.

People who have to leave their primary residences will be offered Emergency Support Services, according to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

“As there is no commercial lodging available in Kamloops if one of the properties under evacuation order is your primary residence, please make arrangements to stay with family or friends,” the TNRD said, in a statement.

The massive Sparks Lake Fire – the largest in B.C. – is still estimated at 40,200 hectares in size, though the BC Wildfire Service released a new fire perimeter yesterday.

Another 170 TNRD properties were already on evacuation order, along with some members of the Skeetchestn Indian Band. People in several hundred other properties in the TNRD remain on evacuation alert.

For the latest on TNRD evacuation orders and alerts, go here.