Travel warning issued due to wildfires in B.C. Interior
Posted August 13, 2021 7:10 pm.
Last Updated August 13, 2021 10:37 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Strong winds in B.C.’s southern Interior over the weekend are expected to fan wildfire flames in already-hard-hit communities, and the province is warning against travelling to some areas in case space is needed for evacuees.
On Friday afternoon, provincial officials urged British Columbians to stay away from Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band land, Enderby, and parts of the Regional District of the North Okanagan.
“If you are thinking of visiting there, Don’t. If you are a tourist in that area, leave now,” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said.
“At the same time, we are also letting people know that there may well be evacuation alerts and orders that are put in place, and people need to follow those.”
RELATED: Largest B.C. wildfires likely to burn ‘right up until the snow falls’: province
More than 6,200 properties have been already evacuated because of the threat of a fire, while residents in about 27,000 properties have been placed on evacuation alert to be ready to leave. On Thursday, the entire community of Logan Lake — with a population of more about 2,000 — was ordered to leave.
Farnworth encouraged people to travel to places where they will not be a “strain on local resources,” also noting travel to the central Okanagan is being discouraged due to surging COVID-19 case number in that region.
Travel Warning in effect for parts of interior #BC including the communities of #Armstrong, #Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band, #Enderby & parts of the Regional District North #Okanagan. More info: https://t.co/bdZZmYKt8I #BCwildfire pic.twitter.com/ZWKfTjZ8SH
— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) August 13, 2021
‘Direct threat to life and safety’: wildfire service
Winds are expected to whip up to 30 km/h on Saturday and hit 60 km/h by Sunday, according to Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for the BC Wildfire Service.
“The potential impact of this forecasted weather is a direct threat to life and property,” he said.
“If these winds arrived they will drive aggressive fire behaviour. It is currently very hot and dry in the central and southern Interior as we’ve been in a heatwave.”
Windy conditions mean existing fires can grow, firefighting efforts become more challenging, and there is a risk of spot fires being started due to “ember showers,” Clifford explained.
“We’re proceeding with extreme caution and ask anyone in the area of a fire to do the same.”
Fires have already scorched more than 662,000 hectares of land, and there are 268 currently active. The White Rock Lake fire, burning between Vernon and Kamloops remains one of the largest and most challenging at 58,000 hectares — more than five times the size of the city of Vancouver.
