The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District has issued an evacuation order for part of the District of Sicamous because of a new wildfire today.
The order affects all homes south of Sherlock Road, southeast of Cook Avenue, Gillis Avenue and Larch Avenue, east of Sicamous narrows and Mara Lake and north of Sicamous Creek. All other homes in Sicamous south of Highway 1 are on evacuation alert.
Details of the new order can be found here.
The Wise Man Creek Fire is burning near Two Mile Creek and was last estimated at 60 hectares in size early Tuesday afternoon.
The blaze was reportedly caused by a vehicle that crashed into a power pole and caught fire on Highway 97A, caused the flames to spread to the grass. The fire danger rating is “extreme” in much of the Shuswap this afternoon.
Highway 97A remains closed because of the fire, with no estimated time of reopening. Updates from DriveBC can be found here.
Interior Health Evacuating Sicamous Hospital, Long Term Care Residents
Interior Health says it is proactively relocating care home residents within the Wise Man Creek wildfire evacuation alert zone.
“Community health clients and residents from Eagle Valley Manor are being evacuated with support staff to neighboring communities,” it said.
“The Sicamous Health Centre is evacuated and will remain closed until further notice.”
People looking to confirm the location where their friends or relatives have been evacuated to are asked to call 1-877-442-2001.
“Due to the evacuation alerts in place throughout the region, the COVID-19 immunization clinic in Sicamous is cancelled and anyone with appointments will be contacted directly to reschedule,” the health authority said. “Drop-in options in nearby immunization clinics are located here.”
If you require support, you’re asked to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789.
“We are working closely with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients, and residents,” Interior Health said.
“[We] also continue to monitor wildfire activity across the region. Wildfire planning includes supporting anyone who may be in isolation due to COVID-19. We will ensure separate arrangements are made for anyone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 to protect the public from potential exposure.”
You can find the latest on the current wildfire activity here.
