The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has downgraded an evacuation order to evacuation alert for 58 properties impacted by the Ainslie Creek wildfire, burning out of control between Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon, Highway 8, and Highway 5.

The downgrade came at noon on Saturday (Aug. 29), and applies to properties in the Coldwater Road/Patchett Road area. At the same time, the TNRD downgraded an evacuation alert to all clear for 94 addressed properties in the Brookemere and Kane Valley Road area east of Highway 5.

It means that there are no longer any properties within the TNRD under evacuation order due to the Ainslie Creek fire. As of Saturday afternoon, the fire was estimated at 67,722 hectares, and has shown no growth since Monday (Aug. 24).

In the Fraser Canyon, crews are working towards 100-foot extinguishment west to east from Highway 1 to the transmission lines on the south flank. Work is underway to bring in a Rapattack crew to create more access into the Anderson Creek drainage.

Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon reopened to traffic on Wednesday (Aug. 26), after being closed for seven weeks due to the risk of wildfire and falling debris. Additional rockfall continues to be a hazard, and periodically impacts the highway.

Traffic is single-lane alternating with a pilot car for a two-kilometre stretch of highway either side of Alexandra Tunnel, with crews working alongside the highway. Drivers are instructed to obey all signage and speed limits, and expect delays of up to 30 minutes. For up-to-date highway information, visit DriveBC.

BC Wildfire Service notes that more seasonal temperatures are returning to the area, with highs in the low- to mid-twenties and relative humidity between 40 and 60 per cent during the day. There has been light rainfall over some areas of the fire, which will lower fire behaviour in the short-term, but there is no “fire ending” rain in the weather models at this time.

BCWS says that fire activity will likely occur in the interior of the Ainslie Creek wildfire’s perimeter until winter, due to the extreme drought conditions across most of the trees and soil the fire is burning in. Fire Behaviour Specialists have been conducting wood and soil sampling in the field. Despite the rain, and due to the extreme drought conditions, moisture content remains very low.

While the province has rescinded the prohibition on off-road vehicle use on Crown land in many regions, an Area Restriction remains in effect for the entirety of the area covered by the Ainslie Creek wildfire. The restriction is currently due to remain in place until noon on Monday, Aug. 31.

For more information about the most recent evacuation order and alert downgrades, visit the TNRD’s Emergency Operations Centre Dashboard. For more information about the Ainslie Creek fire, and all other fires currently burning in the province, visit the BC Wildfire Service interactive map.