An aerial image of the White Rock Lake wildfire, taken on July 26, 2021.
Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service
July 27, 2021 - 2:15 PM
More evacuation orders and alerts have been issued north of the White Rock Lake wildfire, which is burning near Westwold.
The wildfire is now estimated to cover 17,900 hectares, according to B.C. Wildfire Service, on July 27. That's more than 5,000 hectares of growth since yesterday's aerial mapping.
Eleven properties near Monte Lake are now ordered to evacuate, while the Thompson Nicola Regional District has extended alerts to 277 properties, including some northwest of the fire to Monte Creek and Barnhartvale, and others to the northeast near Pillar Lake.
The regional district also issued an evacuation order for the area around the Salmon River Forest Service Road and an alert around the Whiteman Creek Forest Service Road, both of which are to the southeast of the wildfire area. No properties were listed in the updates.
Residents of at least 10 properties southwest of Falkland are also being ordered to evacuate, with the community of Falkland now placed on evacuation alert by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
Both regional districts announced the expanded evacuation alerts and orders on July 27.
The growth at the White Rock Lake wildfire is a result of increased winds pushing past fire guards to the north, according to B.C. Wildfire Service.
The wildfire service is being aided at White Rock Lake by 100 firefighters from Quebec, who completed their briefing at the scene yesterday.
There are seven helicopters at the scene today to douse hot spots, but fire information officer Mike McCauley says the aggressive fire activity has forced ground crews to redraw their planned fire guards.
The wildfire was first discovered on July 13, and at least 86 regional district properties have been ordered to evacuate.
Go here for more information about evacuation status updates and emergency services from the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
Go here for updates and emergency information from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
—This story was updated at 3:25 p.m., July 27, 2021, with new information from the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
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