The wildfire burning to the south of Sicamous, July 21, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Shuswap Lake Watch
July 22, 2021 - 8:40 AM
A wildfire burning to the south of a Shuswap community has reached 800 hectares in size.
The Two Mile Road wildfire, located roughly two kilometres to the south of Sicamous, is still classified as out of control as of 8 p.m. yesterday, July 20, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
“The updated size is due to better mapping as well as growth on the fire. Growth (yesterday) was in a direction away from Sicamous and crews are making good progress holding the guard at the lower end of the fire despite gusts up to 35 km/hr,” according to the service.
An evacuation order is in effect for all Sicamous residents to the south of Sherlock Road, southeast of Cook Avenue, Gillis Avenue, Larch Avenue, east of the Sicamous Narrows and Mara Lake, and north of Sicamous Creek.
An evacuation alert has been issued by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District for the area of the District of Sicamous south of the Trans-Canada Highway up to the eastern and western boundaries of the District of Sicamous.
The B.C. Wildfire Service is assisting the Sicamous Fire Department and the Swansea Fire Department with 33 personnel. Two helicopters and multiple pieces of heavy equipment will continue supporting throughout today. Crews will continue to work with heavy equipment and industry partners to build guard around the fire.
Highway 97A south of Sicamous is closed between five km north of Enderby to Sicamous due to the wildfire.
The fire started when a van drove off of Highway 97A and drove into a hydro poll. The transformer on the poll exploded and sent sparks down the power line and created an area of 300 to 400 metres where sparks started the fire, said Mayor Terry Rysz said.
READ MORE: 'Still not out of the woods,' Sicamous mayor recounts experience with wildfire
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