An aerial view of the Ross Moore Lake Wildfire south of Kamloops, Saturday, July 22, 2023.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/BC Wildfire Service
July 24, 2023 - 5:03 PM
A wildfire south of Kamloops grew by nearly 1,000 hectares since it was last measured.
The Ross Moore Lake wildfire's growth is due, in part, to more accurate mapping, but also from the wind pushing it further toward the southern limits of the city, BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Noelle Kekula said.
It was estimated to be 2,600 hectares in size as of this afternoon, July 24, following the previous 1,800 hectare measurement.
Hundreds of properties were evacuated Sunday night from the Lac le Jeune area to Knutsford, with another 157 on alert in the Thompson Nicola Regional District. Some City of Kamloops properties in Knutsford are also on alert.
Regional district spokesperson Colton Davies said there are no plans to expand the alerts or orders in that area as of this afternoon despite the growth.
He said the sweeping alerts and orders were given in part to give advance notice to farmers in the area with livestock who need more time to coordinate their evacuation.
Davies said the regional district has not found structures loss due to the blaze so far, and staff will assess the area again tonight as fire behaviour slows.
The wildfire was discovered on Friday, July 21, and grew quickly over the weekend. It was last measured at roughly 12 kilometres south of Kamloops, but it's not clear how much closer the fire perimeter is now due to the newly-measured growth.
It's suspected to have been caused by lightning.
Temperatures are expected to cool to 13 Celsius overnight with a 70% chance of rain in the Kamloops area, according to Environment Canada. Wind, however, will continue with gusts up to 40 km/h expected this evening.
Rain may continue tomorrow with a high of just 23 C in the city tomorrow.
Go here for information on evacuation alerts and orders from the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
Go here for updates from the City of Kamloops.
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