The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for 277 properties southeast of Kamloops and in the Monte Creek area because of the White Rock Lake wildfire.
It says the fire poses a threat to the structures and residents in the properties listed below:
- 2, 10, 515 and 525 Barnhartvale Rd;
- 1048 to 2179 Barnhartvale Rd;
- 9760 and 9940 Barnhartvale Rd;
- 1524 to 1659 Bostock Rd;
- 3461 to 5165 Campbell Range Rd;
- 3864 to 4745 Chase-Falkland Rd;
- 956 to 2160 Dallas Dr;
- 4545 to 4585 Demarni Rd;
- 3941 Duck Range Rd;
- 6265 to 6325 Eden Rd;
- 6828 to 6910 Faulk Rd;
- 3342 to 3625 Garrett Rd;
- 4080 to 4195 Gowan Rd;
- 2881 and 2930 Hanna Rd;
- 9052 to 9710 Hidden Vale Ranch Rd;
- 1257 to 2547 Hook Rd;
- 2600 to 2832 Hwy 97;
- 6459 to 6780 Karjula Rd;
- 1677 to 1685 Lute Rd;
- 3880 to 3946 Maddox Rd;
- 6725 to 6888 Martin Prairie Rd;
- 4620 Martinson Rd;
- 2412 to 2776 Miners Bluff Rd;
- 1534 to 1760 Monte Creek Rd;
- 4705 Moore-Richardson Rd;
- 4139 to 4523 Moser Rd;
- 6585 to 6940 Paxton Valley Rd;
- 2280 to 6080 Robbins Range Rd;
- 4845 Sinclair Rd;
- 1121 to 1655 Watson-Larson Rd;
- any properties with the boundary outlined on the attached map.
A further 11 properties near Monte Lake are being ordered to evacuate, as follows:
- 3566 Hwy 97
- 3665 to 3715 Mill Rd;
- 3706 to 3728 Monte Lake Rd; and
- any properties within the boundary outlined on the attached map.
Elsewhere, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has also issued an evacuation alert covering the communities of Falkland and Sweetsbridge, as well as all properties along Chase-Falkland Road to Joyce Lake.
It has also ordered some properties around Will Lake and the west end of Pinaus Lake to be evacuated immediately, while the Regional District of North Okanagan has also issued an evacuation order for Pinaus Lake area properties and Bouleau Lake.
Meanwhile, the City of Kamloops said in a statement that the evacuation alerts extends up to the southeast city boundary near Barnhartvale, and not the city itself.
“At this point, the city said the White Rock Lake Fire is not a threat to Kamloops, and B.C. Wildfire Service is monitoring the fire and will notify the city if it becomes a threat,” the City statement said.
The White Rock Lake fire is an estimated 17,900 hectares in size, and its been burning out of control since it was discovered on July 13.
“Fire behaviour was elevated again yesterday due to warm temperatures and increased southwest winds. This aggressive fire behaviour caused growth to the northwest past Jimmy lake and produced large columns of smoke,” the BC Wildfire Service said, in a statement.
“Increased fire activity is expected to continue in the coming days as hot, dry and windy conditions will persist. No precipitation is anticipated in the near future. These conditions will continue to challenge fire suppression efforts and cause additional growth on this fire.”
The Wildfire Service says it has asked for more structural protection units that will patrol and action hotspots in an effort to protect properties and high value assets.
“Airtankers may continue to be used to apply retardant to the fire if conditions allow. This is done to help slow the spread of the fire and create time and space for equipment and crews to safely build guard lines ahead of the fire,” the BCWS added.
In all, 100 firefighters and 12 support staff from Quebec completed their first day on the fire yesterday – mostly working on the western flank. The BC Wildfire Service says there are 127 firefighters in total at this fire along with seven helicopters and 38 pieces of heavy equipment.
For the latest on Evacuation Orders and Alerts in the TNRD, go here.
