B.C. wildfire status Tuesday: Small businesses eligible for $1,500

Some help is on the way for businesses affected by the B.C. wildfire crisis.

The Ministry of Forests announced Monday a $1,500 emergency credit is now available to small business owners through the Red Cross.

Many businesses have been fighting to stay afloat due to evacuations, loss of land, and a decline in business.

Highway closures have further hampered the economy by making some travel throughout the province difficult.

Highway 20 has now reopened at Farwell Canyon Road due to reduced fire activity in the Hanceville Riske Creek wildfire.

MAP: Where the wildfires are burning around B.C.

Concern is now growing, however, in the Thompson Nicola region, where the eastern border of the massive Elephant Hill wildfire is located.

The fire is now just 25 kilometres outside Kamloops and it’s grown to almost 170,000 hectares.

More than 700 personnel are trying to get a handle on the blaze and structural crews are making every effort to protect homes and buildings.

There have been no new evacuation orders or alerts in the last 24 hours.

WATCH: We’re hearing dramatic first-hand accounts of the battle against these wildfires from Vancouver Island firefighters. They’ve just returned home after weeks on the front line. As Neetu Garcha reports, their chilling stories come with a powerful message.

1:53 Vancouver Island firefighters share dramatic stories about B.C. wildfires

Weather update

With wildfire officials fighting a little more than 160 fires in the province, people in the central and southern interior can expect temperatures in the mid-to-upper 20s.