UPDATE 5:30 p.m. – The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has ordered the evacuation of nine more properties in the Spences Bridge area, taking the total to 85.

The nine new properties are in the Venables Valley area up to Hat Creek Road, east of Oregon Jack Park.

It adds to the 76 properties that were put on order last night in the Venables Valley region to the north of Spences Bridge, as well as the communities of Epsom and Martel.

The TNRD has also expanded an the evacuation alert from 25 to 170 properties in Electoral Area “I” (Blue Sky Country). The properties on alert stretch from Spences Bridge to the border of the Ashcroft Ranch.

The rally point for those forced out of their homes last night is the basement of the Cache Creek Community Hall, though people are being told to stay with friends and family, if possible.”

“Cache Creek has been an ESS host in the past, and based on the highways location, a bit strategic or conveniently located as well,” TNRD spokesperson Colton Davies told Radio NL.

The Cook’s Ferry Indian Band has also expanded its evacuation orders to cover seven of its reservations – 5, 5A, 6, 8A, 18, 19 Firstly, and 22.

The band has also expanded its evacuation alerts to cover IRs 1, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11a, 16, 17, 19 Secondly, and 20.

The Shetland Creek wildfire, which broke out last Friday, jumped from around 300 hectares yesterday to around 5,000 hectares – or 50 sq. km. last night – after it merged with the earlier Teit Creek fire, which is no longer listed on the BC Wildfire Service maps.

“Credit to Venables during an obviously very stressful time when the wildfire is closing in on the community,” Davies added. “They were very well organized with evacuation planning.

“Its a tightknit community up there, and we did have TNRD staff in the community before the order officially came in. Many residents had already evacuated before the issued the official notice.”

On July 17, the Teit Creek wildfire (K70913) merged into the Shetland Creek wildfire (K70910). Going forward, this incident will be referred to as the Shetland Creek wildfire (K70910). pic.twitter.com/tDlCte6cCR

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 18, 2024

At this time, Davies say no injuries have been reported and there are no reports of any structures loss within the TNRD.

The BC Wildfire Service says it had 10 personnel on the fire overnight on July 17. There are two 20-person unit crews, two initial attack crews and two wildfire officers responding.

There are also five helicopters responding to cover reconnaissance and bucketing work, along with two bulldozers, two excavators, and three water tenders.

A structure protection specialist and structure protection crew is also responding.

The BC Wildfire Service’s latest bulletin says the risk of thunderstorms with dry lightning strikes persists Thursday in the inland reaches of the province, especially in southern parts of the Cascade Range as well as the Columbias and the Robson Valley area near B.C.’s boundary with Alberta.

Winds are also expected to pick up in the Kamloops fire centre, particularly in the Fraser Canyon, as well as the Cariboo fire centre in central B.C. and the Peace region in the northeast.

The service adds that light showers are forecast for the far northwest, but the rest of the province will remain dry into the weekend.

It says widespread thunderstorms and strong winds are expected Friday and Saturday.

– With files from Victor Kaisar and The Canadian Press