Authorities have broadened evacuation directives connected to the largest wildfire in British Columbia.
Over the weekend, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District extended an evacuation order for an area south of the Pear Lake wildfire to encompass properties near Highway 99 in the Marble Canyon region.
Similarly, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District also widened an evacuation order along Highway 99, to the west of the Highway 97 intersection.
The recent directives from both regional districts now pertain to nearly 200 properties collectively.
Furthermore, the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation has issued evacuation orders encompassing several of its reserves.
Residents of Clinton were permitted to return to their residences on Saturday, while evacuation orders remain in effect for properties west of the village due to the Pear Lake Wildfire. Summerland residents are also gradually being allowed back, although a boil water advisory is in place for the district .
All three governing bodies have also expanded evacuation notifications.
The Pear Lake wildfire has scorched over 1,647 square kilometers, as per the B.C. Wildfire Service, and has led to the destruction of structures on more than 120 properties, predominantly around Clinton. The fire is currently most active on its western and southern perimeters.
Alerts for Severe Thunderstorms
Environment Canada has issued a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for a significant portion of the B.C. Interior, Cariboo, and Metro Vancouver. Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for certain areas of Vancouver Island.
The department advises seeking immediate shelter if a thunderstorm is approaching.
The B.C. Wildfire Service mentioned that changing weather conditions could bring about dry lightning strikes and strong winds across the southern and central Interior on Saturday, along with localized gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour accompanying some thunderstorms.
“This will escalate fire activity in areas already affected by fires and could trigger new wildfire outbreaks,” as stated on the service’s online dashboard.
New Wildfire Ignited South of Kamloops
Firefighters were dispatched to combat a new lightning-caused wildfire in the Jacko Lake vicinity, just south of Kamloops, on Saturday.
By Saturday evening, the fire had expanded to 44 hectares (about 0.4 square kilometers
