This photo of the Ashcroft wildfire was posted to Twitter by user coquihalla warrior around 1:30 p.m. today July 7, 2017.
Image Credit: TWITTER/@theofaber
Republished July 07, 2017 - 4:25 PM
Original Publication Date July 07, 2017 - 12:33 PM
ASHCROFT - A rapidly developing 700-hectare wildfire is burning about two kilometres from the village of Ashcroft, west of Kamloops and everyone in Cache Creek is under evacuation order.
Ashcroft and Hat Creek, Lytton, Walhachin and Spences Bridge are under a state of local emergency, according to a release from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
An emergency centre is set up at McArthur Island Sports Lounge at 1665 Island Parkway in Kamloops.
The wildfire is threatening homes and B.C. Wildfire crews are performing tactical evacuations, fire information officer Jody Lucius says.
The fire is estimated at 700 hectares and Lucius says the hot weather isn't helping.
"Certainly the hot and dry weather always means a lot of forest fire fuels are susceptible to catching fire," she says.
Highway 1 and Highway 97C are closed in both directions, according to Drive B.C. The Okanagan Connector is closed from Government Street in Ashcroft to Highway 1, while the Trans Canada is closed from Ashcroft to Cache Creek.
For the latest updates on the highway closures go to the Drive B.C. website.
Contact the TNRD emergency operations centre at 1-866-377-7188.
— This story was updated at 1:11 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017 to include new information.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Kim Anderson or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017