B.C. wildfire closes Highway 97 between Vernon and Kamloops, destroys homes
Posted August 5, 2021 8:32 pm.
Last Updated August 6, 2021 7:11 am.
VERNON (NEWS 1130) — One of B.C.’s fastest-moving wildfires jumped Highway 97 between Kamloops and Vernon Thursday, closing the highway, and leading to more evacuations.
As hundreds more properties are being ordered to evacuate, officials are pleading with people under order to leave immediately, and not put first responders at risk.
The White Rock Lake fire is estimated at 32,500 hectares, and burning out of control in the Southern Interior.
White Rock Lake fire from Vernon. #okanaganlake #whiterocklakefire pic.twitter.com/8jVIXPh4Lb
— BonnieJohnson (@BonnieJohnson) August 6, 2021
Thompson-Nicola Regional District Chair Ken Gillis says he’s heard the campsite near Westwold has burned down.
“There were probably a few residences associated with that campground,” he said, adding some people refused to leave.
“They would have had time to get out if they followed the evacuation order yesterday. But from what I understand a number of them didn’t, so I suspect [those homes] are gone now,” he said Thursday.
The general store has also burned down and it’s expected there will be more damage once officials are able to safely access the area.
The BC Wildfire Service says several people refused to leave, and crews had to conduct tactical evacuations those people, instead of focusing their efforts on fighting the fire and protecting structures.
Related Articles:
-
B.C. has issued over 100 fire-related fines so far this season
-
Wildfire tears through Monte Lake destroying homes, general store
-
B.C. community forced to evacuate due to White Rock Lake wildfire
“The top priority for the BC Wildfire Service is human life and safety. If you have received an Evacuation Order, please leave the area immediately. For other travellers, please try to stay off the roads as much as possible. Evacuees are being impeded by congestion and other drivers attempting to get around the road closures,” the BC Wildfire Service said.
Incident Commander Scott Rennick has expressed his frustration with people who did not heed the evacuation order.
“We gave people ample notice, but those who chose to stay put my staff at tremendous risk in the path of the fire to get them out of harm’s way. Do not put my people in the position that some others did today,” he said.
“We gave people ample notice, but those who chose to stay put my staff at tremendous risk in the path of the fire to get them out of harm’s way. Do not put my people in the position that some others did today.”
– Scott Rennick, BC Wildfire Incident Commander, August 5 pic.twitter.com/lbaPjcngLL— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 6, 2021
New evacuations
The entire community of Falkland was ordered to evacuate Wednesday night, and power has since gone out in that area. Two more evacuation orders were issued Thursday night, covering nearly 700 properties.
The first was for 303 properties in the Monte Lake/Westwold area.
The TNRD has issued an Evacuation Order for 303 properties in Electoral Area "L" in the vicinity of Westwold/Monte Lake, which were previously on Alert, due to the White Rock Lake Wildfire #BCWildfirehttps://t.co/eBHREnNiAC pic.twitter.com/qFaMSTWsJ6
— TNRD (@TNRD) August 6, 2021
Soon after, 373 properties were ordered to evacuate in the Pritchard area.
The TNRD EOC has issued an Evacuation Order for 373 addressed properties in Electoral Area "L" in the vicinity of Pritchard, due to the White Rock Lake Wildfire #BCWildfire https://t.co/hNbLN7vvSV pic.twitter.com/N6Y4YxzHX2
— TNRD (@TNRD) August 6, 2021
“Winds have come up and fire behaviour has become increasingly aggressive. The situation is extremely dangerous and increasingly volatile,” says an update from the Columbia-Shuswap regional district.
The White Rock Lake wildfire (K61884) is displaying increasingly aggressive fire behaviour. The fire has breached #BCHwy97 just south of Monte Lake, and strong winds continue to progress the fire northeast. pic.twitter.com/48RvfhZxxL
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 6, 2021
The wildfire service is warning anyone living near the White Rock Lake fire to remain vigilant.
“The public is urged to maintain heightened awareness of the evolving situation over the next 48-hours and should be prepared in advance for a potential Evacuation Alert or Evacuation Order,” the website says.
The city of Kamloops has also activated its emergency operations centre.
Two fires of note are impacting our neighbours in the TNRD & have the potential to cross over municipal boundaries. The EOC has been activated to closely monitor the situation – the safety of all #Kamloops residents is our top priority. Visit https://t.co/G2ipJpg6c4 for updates pic.twitter.com/h4uTT14gRH
— City of Kamloops (@cityofkamloops) August 6, 2021
The effort to contain the fire includes 13 helicopters, 136 wildland firefighters, 125 structure protection personnel, 13 helicopters, 10 danger tree assessors/fallers, 43 pieces of heavy equipment, seven support staff and a BC Wildfire Service Incident Management Team, according to the regional district.
Highway 97 closed
The highway has been closed between the Chase Falkland Road at Monte Creek and the Salmon River Road east of Kamloops, around 1:30 p.m. It will likely remain closed until at least Saturday morning.
#BCHwy97 – CLOSED due to wildfire activity between Salmon River Rd and #MonteCreek east of #Kamloops. Please watch for crews on the road. Detour available via Highway 97A, Highway 97B & Highway 1.
Next update time Saturday 8:30AM PM PDT. More info: https://t.co/9cGlz0z5F9 pic.twitter.com/D9V7nqPglP— DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 5, 2021
Another fire is also threatening homes in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
People near the Tremont Creek Wildfire were also told to leave Thursday night.
The order was issued for 17 properties in the vicinity of Tunkwa Lake.
The TNRD EOC has issued an Evacuation Order in Electoral Area "J" for 17 properties in the vicinity of Tunkwa Lake due to the Tremont Creek Wildfire #BCWildfirehttps://t.co/hNbLN7vvSV pic.twitter.com/I4WF1oVWp4
— TNRD (@TNRD) August 6, 2021
