The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has upgraded an evacuation alert impacting 132 properties in the village of Whitecroft, west of Sun Peaks, to an evacuation order because of a wildfire.
“A wildfire event located in the vicinity of Whitecroft is threatening structures and the safety of residents in Electoral Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks),” a statement from the regional district said.
“Because of the potential danger to life and safety, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has issued an evacuation order.”
The properties impacted by the evacuation order include:
- 7305 to 7408 Cahilty Cres;
- 3208 to 3229 Cahilty Pl;
- 7116 to 7200 Cahilty Rd;
- 2893 to 3540 Heffley-Louis Creek Rd;
- 3240 to 3260 McGillivray Creek Rd;
- 3140 Strachan Rd;
- 3220 and 3272 Sun Peaks Rd;
- 6420 to 7046 Upper Louis Creek Rd; and
- any other properties within the boundary noted on the attached map.
NL Reporter Brett Mineer who was is in Whitecroft when the evacuation order came in says people were going door to door informing people of the situation and from property to property removing brush.
He also says RCMP officers were seen heading towards the area to help with the evacuations.
A short while after the evacuation order was made, another 156 properties in the Heffley Lake area, west of Whitecroft, were put on an evacuation alert by the TNRD.
Those properties include:
- 6555 to 6596 Fawnhill Rd;
- 2484 to 2496 Fisher Rd;
- 2544 to 2592 Golden Horn Rd;
- 2304 to 2476 Heffley Lake Rd;
- 1840 to 2845 Heffley-Louis Creek Rd;
- 5854 to 6225 Lake Bay Rd;
- 6234 to 6433 Lakeshore Rd;
- 1860 to 1930 Lakeview Dr;
- 6447 to 6593 Lower Heffley Lake Rd;
- 2320 and 2321 Shaw Rd;
- 5980 to 6640 Yates Creek Rd; and
- any other properties within the boundary noted on the attached map.
So far, the fire is not threating Sun Peaks and there are no evacuation orders or alerts impacting that community, but people who are not full-time residents are being told to stay away.
“The section of Sun Peaks Road from Whitecroft to Sun Peaks is currently open for travel to full time residents only,” a statement from municipality Saturday night said.
“We are supporting the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in limiting traffic to residents only so existing evacuation orders can be carried out.”
According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Embleton Mountain wildfire, formerly the Kirton wildfire, is burning out of control approximately 2.5 km west of Cahilty Creek at an estimated 105 hectares in size.
“Aggressive fire behaviour is being seen on site,” the BCWS says in a statement, noting it is now a wildfire of note.
There are 14 firefighters and four helicopters battling this fire, according to the Wildfire Service. Crews will remain on site overnight and air support will resume in the morning.
The fire broke out yesterday but its not clear what caused the blaze.
For the latest on any evacuation orders and alerts in the TNRD, go here.
(Photo via Keith Lyall on Twitter)
That’s it for me from the field tonight. #WhitecroftBC was ordered evacuated, fire was slowly moving downhill toward structures but there was no wind to speak of. On my way out I passed about a half-dozen RCMP vehicles headed in to assist with the evacuations. pic.twitter.com/3NBBPeW48D
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) July 11, 2021
There is now a roadblock set up on the road to #SunPeaks at Lake Bay Road a few km’s outside Whitecroft. When I went by it – it was not manned by RCMP and I was told vehicles were still being let through for the time being – but that could change at a moment notice. pic.twitter.com/8CatOaMXPj
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) July 11, 2021
UPDATE: I’m eyes-on in #whitecroft, which is under evacuation ALERT right now due to a large fire. #Kamloops #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/mn5HtZvqqj
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) July 11, 2021
An evacuation alert for 132 properties west of #WhitecroftBC, near #SunPeaksBC. #Kamloops https://t.co/fWMQ1GfrH2
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) July 11, 2021
View from Lolo pic.twitter.com/HzdAJgWqui
— AlpineLifer (@AlpineLifer) July 10, 2021
