Twenty-five properties near the Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt have been ordered to evacuate Tuesday morning because of a nearby wildfire.

The order from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District affects homes on Juliet Drive, with address numbers between 5644 and 6705.

This is a result of the July Mountain wildfire, which has grown to 760 hectares in size. The fire started a week ago, and was caused by lightning.

In an update this morning, the BC Wildfire Service says it had one helicopter fighting the fire and crews were continuing to monitor its status.

The same 25 properties were evacuated in August of 2018, because of the Murray Creek wildfire. That fire never damaged structures and the Coquihalla was never impacted by that fire, which grew to more than 2,700 hectares in size.

(Photo: TNRD)