The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has rescinded an evacuation alert for residents in Monte Lake, Paxton Valley, and Westwold that were impacted by the White Rock Lake Fire.

It says there are 366 properties that have been given the all clear, southeast of Kamloops, as the threat of wildfire no longer poses an imminent risk to the safety of people in the area.

Yesterday, an evacuation order was partially downgraded to an alert, impacting some properties that were in yellow on the attached map. Evacuation orders are also still in place in three other regional districts – Columbia-Shuswap, Central Okanagan and Regional District of North Okanagan – as well as the Okanagan Indian Band.

The White Rock Lake Fire is still burning out of control at an estimated 833 square kilometres in size.

A prescribed burn on Monday in the Irish Creek area coupled with rain across the fire perimeter has reduced the risk of further spread at this time.

“The planned ignition was 975 hectares in total size,” the BC Wildfire Service said, in a statement. “The Irish Creek area has over 40 years of woody debris buildup. Areas that had significant fuel build up, combined with very steep slopes, burned with more intensity.”

“This resulted in a patchwork burn with pockets of more intense fire behaviour that is seen when natural wildfire moves through a forest.”

Of the 975 hectares, 14 hectares burned across containment lines in a 920 metre stretch along the guard when decked logs ignited by more intense fire behaviour. It says the fire was fully contained by Tuesday morning.

For the latest on the status on evacuation alerts and orders in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, go here.

More to come