Just like it did for residents in Juniper Ridge in Kamloops, a nearby wildfire is likely going to lead to discussions about an improved secondary access road to Sun Peaks Resort.

Heffley-Louis Creek Road is the main road into the community, but it passes through Whitecroft, which is currently on evacuation order because of the Embleton Mountain wildfire.

The McGilivray Lake Forestry Road to Chase is another option, but Sun Peaks Resort Marketing Manager Aidan Kelly says it could definitely use an upgrade.

“It’s not like a little tight dirt road access, its a proper gravel road but it wouldn’t be highly recommended in a sedan at all, but for a good chunk of vehicles, it’s a viable road,” he said on the NL Morning News.

“From a resident perspective, we’re not at the point where we are relying on that access road but it is comforting to know that we have two different ways in and out of the community, when required.”

Kelly thinks there will be discussions in the future to turn that Forestry Road into a more permanent access to Sun Peaks.

“We need to reignite the conversation on turning that forestry road into a proper road so that Sun Peaks is more of a flow through community versus the end of the road kind of thing,” Kelly added. “It is an access but it definitely is a secondary access.”

“For me, that’s an item on the radar for further discussion, just the way it was up in Juniper in Kamloops.”

While Sun Peaks is on evacuation alert right now, Kelly says he thinks that access road is a bigger concern right now to local residents.

“This is a personal opinion,” he noted. “[The situation] can obviously change very quickly as we know wildfire behaviour is unpredictable. That’s why all the precautions are being taken and why everyone is a little bit on edge and why we have the evacuation alerts.”

As of publishing, the Embleton Mountain Fire is burning out of control at an estimated 516 hectares in size.

“Observed fire growth in the past 24-hours has been up-slope to the west away from the community of Whitecroft,” the BC Wildfire Service said, in a statement.

“The fire is burning in difficult and steep terrain. Unstable slopes and rockslides pose a risk to the safety of our crews. Inoperable areas are being monitored closely and helicopters are being utilized to bucket hot spots in problematic areas.”

Wildfire crews are working to protect properties and are working along the Heffley-Louis Creek Road to manage the fuel load in the area, as well as working along the Todd Mountain Road.

“Heavy equipment will be working with line locators to complete machine guard from Whitecroft to the gravel pit on Todd Mountain Road,” the BCWS added. “The McClure Forest Service Road, northeast of the fire, and Mount Embleton Trail, southwest of the fire, are being assessed for control line feasibility.”

Sun Peaks Resort has been closed to non-local residents since Sunday with most of the resort’s operations closed at this time.