Wildfire tears through Monte Lake destroying homes, general store

MONTE LAKE (NEWS 1130) — A rapidly spreading wildfire has destroyed homes, the general store, and at least one campground in the community of Monte Lake, between Vernon and Kamloops.

The White Rock Lake fire continues to burn out of control. Swift winds created what officials have described as aggressive and volatile conditions, prompting three new evacuation orders affecting almost 700 properties and a closure of Highway 97.

Ken Gillis, chair of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, says the BC Wildfire Service has confirmed “extensive damage” in Monte Lake, which he describes as a small, tourism-focused community with about 125 permanent residents.

“Commercial buildings have been destroyed and some residences have been destroyed, but the extent of the destruction is something I can’t answer because nobody has given me that information,” he says.

“There was a general store and they had gas pumps. I heard that there were propane tanks exploding when that place went up in flames. Then there was a campground, further down the road toward Westwold, and I’ve been told that that has been burned too. There were probably a few residences associated with that campground. I know that some RVs were occupied there, the ones that were located in an RV park on a permanent basis were probably lost in this fire.”

Gillis says it is critical that people heed evacuation orders as soon as they are issued.

“If you are under an evacuation order, pack your immediate belongings your passport, your driver’s licence, maybe a few treasured possessions and get out,” he says.

“We don’t issue evacuation orders lightly. If we move from an alert to an order, it’s only because you are in imminent danger — so take it seriously. We’ve had people taken off the fire fighting duties in order to rescue people who did not follow the evacuation orders. Not only were they removed from firefighting duties, they were in peril themselves.”

“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

With multiple orders to evacuate issued in quick succession, Gillis says the priority remains ensuring people get out safely.

“We don’t want, loss of life, added to the devastation and destruction that we’re already suffering. It’s been a horrifying night for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, that’s for sure.”

Evacuees from Monte Lake will be directed to Kamloops, while those in other areas threatened by the fire will be directed to Vernon.