A wildfire that has flared up along Highway 5A near Princeton has forced the evacuations of an additional 180 to 200 properties as the blaze rages on.
The fire, which was estimated at 1,500 hectares in size on Sunday, has forced the evacuations of a total 195 homes in the Missezula Lake area.
And Summers Creek Rd., the only maintained route to the homes, is “presently closed due to the fires,” the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said in a news release.
Coverage of wildfires on Globalnews.ca:
The evacuations are expected to take place between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., as that’s when the temperature is coolest and the fire risk has been lowered, the regional district added.
Any property owners in the Missezula Lake area have been asked to contact the Emergency Support Services Reception Centre at Princeton’s Riverside Community Centre at 148 Old Hedley Road.
Many of the homes on the lake are vacation properties and they might be empty at this time of year.
Officials are also opening up the Princeton Arena for evacuees.
An earlier evacuation order was being maintained as of Saturday.
Another Evacuation Order was issued on Sunday for 46 homes on 43 properties that are located on Highway 5A north of Princeton.
An additional 73 properties were placed on an advisory Evacuation Alert.
A reception centre for evacuations was set up at Princeton’s Riverside Community Centre at 148 Old Hedley Road on Friday, according to the regional district.
Highway 5A was closed in both directions at the junction with Highway 3, said DriveBC.
Camp Tulahead, which is located along Highway 5A in Princeton, was ordered evacuated by the local fire department as a “precautionary measure.”
“The children are all safe and we will be in touch as soon as we are settled about the location,” said an email to parents.
Kids staying at the camp have been taken to the Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church in Merritt, Princeton Fire Chief Rob Banks told Global News.
As of 10 p.m., most of the campers were picked up and the rest had a sleepover at the church.
“We are thankful to the Merritt Evangelical Free church for their hospitality,” Tulahead board member Karla Friesen told Global News.
At this point, he is not aware of any structures or property that have been damaged by the fire near Princeton.
The fire started on the west side of the valley and jumped to the east side at the ridgeline heading north.
This map shows the areas near Princeton that have been evacuated due to the wildfire:
Here are some photos from the Princeton-area wildfire:
- With files from Doris Bregolisse, Shelby Thom, Lauren Pullen