The Sparks Lake wildfire, June 30, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/BC Wildfire Service
July 03, 2021 - 10:54 AM
A raging wildfire located 15 kilometres north of Kamloops Lake has caused an evacuation order for a local Indigenous band.
The chief and council of the Skeetchestn Indian Band have implemented an evacuation order for IR 0 and IR 1 as of 10 p.m., July 2, due to the Sparks Lake wildfire that is currently classified as out of control.
The fire is still listed as 31,000 hectares in size as of this morning, July 3, but visibility is limited and hampering the ability of the B.C. Wildfire Service to get an idea of the perimeter of the fire, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The B.C. Wildfire Service has 131 firefighters, 18 helicopters and 31 pieces of heavy equipment on the scene today.
“The most active area of the fire yesterday was in the Criss Creek Drainage. Near Frog Lake the fire ran into some rain and fire behaviour dropped significantly. The fire may 'wick' through if it hits pockets of fuel but is currently holding well,” according to the wildfire service.
An evacuation order was also issued by the Thompson Nicola Regional District for Electoral Area E (Bonaparte Plateau) and Electoral Area J (Copper Desert Country) properties June 30, as the fire is threatening structures.
Due to the wildfire, 163 homes are on evacuation order and 298 homes are on evacuation alert, according to the wildfire service.
Board chair Ken Gillis, with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said he’s heard some structures were lost but didn’t have details.
READ MORE: Sparks Lake wildfire northwest of Kamloops grows to 31K hectares
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