Another large-scale evacuation is underway due to the Pear Lake wildfire in the southern Cariboo.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District has issued an evacuation order for the south Green Lake area near 70 Mile House.

This is forcing people out an additional 536 properties.

That takes the total number of properties under evacuation orders from the Pear Lake wildfire — up to 1,119.

People living on the additional properties impacted by the new order are being directed to Prince George for Emergency Social Services help.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District decided previously, when issuing the evacuation order for 70 Mile House, to leave the south Green Lake area under an evacuation alert in a bid to keep those folks in their homes as long as they could.

At the same time, an expansion of evacuation alerts across parts of Electoral Area “E” (Bonaparte Plateau).

Areas including Loon Lake and 16 Mile remain on Evacuation Alert, and newly-impacted areas around Pressey Lake and areas detailed in the map on this page.

“This Evacuation Alert is in place to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary,” cautioned the TNRD in its Alert status update.  “Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to an Evacuation Order.”

“However, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions,” the Regional District warned.

Logan Lake fire expands as smoke inundates region

No change as it stands now to the evacuation alert status for the Guichon Creek wildfire south of Logan Lake.

That fire is now listed at 152 hectares, rising from the 88 hectares it was mapped at on Wednesday evening — the same day the blaze near Logan Lake took hold.

That fire is burning next to Highway 97c, which does remain open for the time being.

“Crews will be working on containment and building guard,” stated the BC Wildfire Service in its update on the activities of the over 30 personnel assigned to the Guichon Creek wildfire.  “Heavy equipment remains on site building guard on the northern flank of the fire.”

The Service says it is utilizing the latest technology to help keep that fire from making a run and potentially cutting off Highway 97c, which provides the key access route between Logan Lake and the District’s main employer, the Highland Valley Copper Mine.

“Personnel and equipment remained on site yesterday overnight,” noted the Wildfire Service.  “Helicopters equipped with Night Vision Imaging Systems were unable to conduct tanking operations due to poor visibility last night.”

Smoke inundates Kamloops and area from southwest

A combination of increased wildfire activity, along with some unfavorable winds, left Kamloops inundated with toxic levels of wildfire smoke through most of Friday morning.

Overnight PM2.5 readings in parts of Kamloops, including Westsyde, Rayleigh and areas of Downtown would reach hazardous-range levels (over 300 ppm) in the early morning hours Friday as many were preparing to get their day started.