The Hullcar Mountain fire as seen from Salmon River Road near Felix Road around 9 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2024. (Photo via Kim Shatzko Gaunt)

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District has issued evacuation orders and alerts because of the Hullcar Mountain wildfire near Armstrong and Enderby.

There are 17 CSRD properties along Salmon River Road and Deep Creek Road on order while alerts were also expanded to 25 more properties, bringing the total in the region to 69.

Evacuation orders and alerts have also been issued by the Township of Spallumcheen and Splatsin First Nation while the Okanagan Indian Band has also issued evacuation alerts.

The fire is currently mapped at 670 hectares in size, with the northeast corner said to be the most active area of the fire, displaying rank 2 and intermittent rank 3 fire behaviour.

The BC Wildfire Service says there are 51 personnel working on the 6.7 square-kilometre Hullcar Mountain fire.

Information Officer Taylor Shantz  says the northeast corner of the blaze is the most active area and has been the focus for helicopter and water-skimmer planes, that are working to “knock back fire lines.”

The CSRD also says the area of Salmon River Road that is on Evacuation Order will be open to local traffic only, with all non-residents being told to avoid the area.