An evacuation order has been expanded for the Moyie Lake area and some areas on the west side of Lake Koocanusa as wildfires continue to threaten the region.
More than 990 residences and campgrounds in the East Kootenay region are under an evacuation order and another 229 properties are on evacuation alert due to the Lamb Creek fire, one of three major fires burning around Cranbrook.
The Lamb Creek fire is more than 220 hectares in size and is zero per cent contained.
The Linklater Creek fire, which straddles the Canada-U.S. border, is burning 130 hectares of land in B.C., and another 647 hectares south of the border.
Both of those fires are believed to be lightning-caused.
Meanwhile, the BC Wildfire Service says the blaze near St. Mary’s Reserve, 14 kilometres northeast of Cranbrook, is about 400 hectares in size.
WATCH: Latest from the Elephant Hill wildfire
Fear is giving way to frustration for many evacuees from the Elephant Hill Wildfire, who say not enough is being done to keep the fire from growing.
People in Horse Lake are vowing to bring in their own contractors to protect their homes. Officials are still concerned about heavy winds fanning the flames closer to Highway 24, which is still closed near the Highway 97 junction to Horse Lake Road. Smoke continues to billow from the fire and winds have again pushed some of the haze over Kamloops.
There were more than 160 fires burning across the province on Friday, and the wildfire service said unseasonably hot and dry conditions through the weekend could fuel fire activity.
The province is encouraging people to stay out of the woods in the Cariboo, Kamloops and southeast fire centres that have been hardest hit by the fires this season.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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