Evacuations ordered as B.C. wildfires grow
CBC
The latest:
B.C. fire officials are gearing up for what they warn could be a "very challenging 72 hours," with lightning in the forecast and damage already in the B.C. Interior that one witness described as "Armageddon."
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) issued an evacuation order Wednesday evening, impacting about 76 properties in the Venables Valley, an agricultural area about 70 kilometres west of Kamloops.
The TNRD says about 120 people are affected, with more living on neighbouring Cooks Ferry Indian Band land.
Stephen Sherwood, the band's fire chief, said in an interview with CBC's Radio West that the fire overcame the band's land used for cattle grazing and one of the Indigenous protected cultural grounds in the area. He also said the band lost a structure, however, he said it has not been inhabited for some time.
Elsewhere, the Shuswap Emergency Program says it has activated an emergency operations centre in response to multiple new fire starts in the region, though it says no properties are currently at risk.
Meanwhile, in the Central Kootenay Regional District, 11 properties have been ordered evacuated with another 91 on evacuation alert on the east side of Slocan Lake due to the Aylwin Creek wildfire.
Dan Seguin, emergency management coordinator for Regional District of Central Kootenay, told CBC News that there has been a reception centre established for evacuees at the Royal Canadian Legion in the village of Slocan.
He also said the Bannock Point Recreation site is now included in the evacuation order, and urged visitors and other residents in the district to "use their best judgment," pay attention to alerts and steer clear of firefighting areas.
"I encourage individuals to have a look and make sure they're being as safe as possible at a time that conditions can change really quite rapidly," Seguin said.
In the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, an evacuation alert has been issued for the Eastgate, Psayten and Placer areas along B.C. Highway 3 due to the Calcite Creek fire.
The 0.25 square kilometre blaze is "exhibiting aggressive fire behaviour and growth," according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). It says the fire was discovered Thursday and suspected to have been caused by lightning.
Overall, nearly 240 wildfires are active across the province as of Thursday evening, dozens of which started in the last 24 hours. Nearly half are considered out of control.
Lightning is the primary source of new fires, according to Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations with the BCWS.