This article is more than 7 years old and some information may not be up to date.
WATCH: The Ashcroft Reserve fire remains the largest wildfire burning in the B.C. Neetu Garcha was allowed in to Loon Lake to survey the damage – Jul 17, 2017
The Ashcroft wildfire has now ballooned to 52,600 hectares in size and remains the biggest fire burning in B.C. right now.
Story continues below advertisement
Officials confirm homes in Ashcroft and Loon Lake have been destroyed due to the unpredictable wildfire that is still classified as “out of control.”
Global News has reached out to find out how many properties have been destroyed but crews have not been able to get in to these regions to assess the damage.
WATCH: Evacuees from Ashcroft are also in Kamloops, and the fire they left behind is now the biggest in the province. It has tripled in size. Neetu Garcha has more:
Residents of Ashcroft say they have never seen anything like the Ashcroft Reserve wildfire.
Story continues below advertisement
“It’s unbelievable,” one resident told Global News.
Air quality in the region is poor and smoke and haze hangs in the air. The Ministry of Health is urging residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Anyone experiencing any of the following symptoms should contact their health care provider: difficulty breathing, chest pain or discomfort, and sudden onset of cough or irritation of airways.
Exposure is of particular concern for infants, the elderly and those who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, and lung or heart disease.
Fire officials tell Global News it would take an unseasonably significant rainfall to change the current situation.
Ground crews and heavy equipment will continue to focus on building control lines in an effort to protect property adjacent to the Ashcroft fire, and will perform controlled burning operations to support these control lines if conditions allow.
Story continues below advertisement
Fire crews say air tankers may also be used to support these efforts. Crews and equipment will continue working to hold the fire on the west side of Highway 97, and to protect properties in the area.
1/14
Wildfire burning near Ashcroft this past weekend.
View full screen
2/14
Dropping fire retardant on the blaze near Ashcroft.
Barb Woodburn
View full screen
3/14
A helicopter drops water on a wildfire burning on a mountain in Ashcroft, B.C., on Sunday July 9, 2017.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
4/14
B.C. Hydro workers repair power lines among the remains of mobile homes destroyed by wildfire in Boston Flats near Ashcroft, B.C., on Sunday July 9, 2017. B.C. government officials now estimate that 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires burning in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
5/14
View full screen
6/14
Nevaeh Porter, 8, is comforted by her grandmother Angie Thorne as they view the remains of their home that was destroyed by wildfire on the Ashcroft First Nation, near Ashcroft, B.C., late Sunday July 9, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
7/14
Kelsey Thorne holds her daughter Nevaeh Porter, 8, as they both cry while viewing the remains of their home where they lived with her parents that was destroyed by a wildfire on the Ashcroft First Nation, near Ashcroft, British Columbia, late Sunday, July 9, 2017. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
View full screen
8/14
Darin Minnabarriet ties a garbage bag after emptying his freezer at his house that survived a wildfire on the Ashcroft First Nation, near Ashcroft, B.C., late Sunday July 9, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
9/14
Darin Minnabarriet walks to his house that survived a wildfire to empty his freezer on the Ashcroft First Nation, as a fire burns on a mountain in the distance near Ashcroft, B.C., late Sunday July 9, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
10/14
Horses that survived a wildfire stand outside a neighbouring home to feed after numerous homes were destroyed by fire on the Ashcroft First Nation, near Ashcroft, B.C., late Sunday July 9, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
11/14
B.C. Hydro workers repair power lines among the remains of mobile homes destroyed by wildfire in Boston Flats near Ashcroft, B.C., on Sunday July 9, 2017. B.C. government officials now estimate that 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires burning in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
12/14
Kelsey Thorne holds her daughter Nevaeh Porter, 8, as they both cry after viewing the remains of their home where they lived with her parents that was destroyed by wildfire on the Ashcroft First Nation, near Ashcroft, B.C., late Sunday July 9, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
13/14
Kelsey Thorne holds her cat that survived a wildfire after finding it on the property of her home that was destroyed on the Ashcroft First Nation, near Ashcroft, B.C., late Sunday July 9, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
View full screen
14/14
Smoke fills the air as a firefighting helicopter near Ashcroft, B.C., at sunset on Friday July 7, 2017.
The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck