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Evacuation Alert Lifted for Harper Lake Road Properties Near Mt. Scatchard Fire

Jeff Andreas
Jul 4, 2025 | 11:36 AM


Evacuation Alert Lifted for Harper Lake Road Properties Near Mt. Scatchard Fire

Wide view of scar left over by Mount Scatchard wildfire near Chase/via Anne Steenhuysen Photography

An evacuation alert that had been in place for several days due to the Mount Scatchard wildfire has officially been lifted. As of 10:00 AM on July 4, 2025, the TNRD Emergency Operations Centre downgraded the alert to an “All Clear” for approximately nine properties along Harper Lake Road, located in Electoral Area “L” (Grasslands).

This decision follows confirmation from the BC Wildfire Service that the Mount Scatchard fire is now classified as “under control”. According to TNRD Information Officer Colton Davies, while this status is welcome news, it is not always a requirement for lifting alerts.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be at ‘under control’ as a status for us to remove an evacuation alert and go to all clear,” Davies told Radio NL. “We just have to be at a point where the risk to public safety and property has diminished… A fire could be out of control but moved on, or being held, or under control like it is now.”

With the fire no longer expected to grow, affected residents can now begin to relax and settle back in after days of uncertainty. “People who have their bags packed ready to go can breathe a little easier and unpack,” Davies added.

Coordination and Decision-Making Process

While TNRD makes final decisions about evacuation alerts and orders within its jurisdiction, those decisions are heavily guided by the BC Wildfire Service, which provides real-time fire behavior data and recommendations. “The agency that kind of determines most of what we’re doing is… the BC Wildfire Service,” said Davies. “They can tell us what their expectations are and we can plan accordingly.”

He explained that TNRD works closely with other agencies during wildfires — including Interior Health, BC Hydro, and nearby municipalities like Nisconleth and the Village of Chase — through regular coordination calls. However, decisions such as when to lift an alert are made based on TNRD’s assessment of risk using both wildfire service data and local knowledge, including access routes and topography.

“We don’t always have to do the exact perimeters that [BC Wildfire Service is] looking at, but when it comes to the impact based on the fire activity, that’s where they are the main player,” said Davies.

Ongoing Monitoring

Though the Harper Lake area is now considered safe, officials continue to monitor nearby fires. In the Izman Creek area, for instance, three properties remain on Evacuation Order, with another nine on Evacuation Alert. That fire remains out of control, but recent updates indicate no significant growth.

“We’re still status quo… We’re not in a position to downgrade anything, certainly. But we’re not looking at expanding anything from what it is now either,” Davies reported.

Health Service Impacts

Although not directly under TNRD jurisdiction, wildfire-related road closures have had ripple effects, such as the temporary shutdown of the Lytton Health Centre due to Highway 12 closures. Staff traveling from Lillooet were unable to reach the site.

“That’s completely [Interior Health’s] determination,” Davies clarified. “But when there’s impacts like that, we’ll always try to amplify and share that messaging.”

Interior Health reportedly coordinated access through closed routes to ensure essential services continued.