BURSTTwo properties that were on evacuation alert in Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Area “E” are part of an area that has been downgraded to all clear, and more of Area “E” has been downgraded from evacuation order to alert, as of 2 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 29).
The orders and alerts were issued in response to the Pear Lake wildfire, which has shown minimal growth over the past 24 hours. It is now estimated at 165,929 hectares, an increase of only 82 hectares since Friday.
The area that has gone to all clear is west of Highway 97 and north of Highway 99 and includes two addressed properties, at 1468 and 2628 Highway 99. An area along Pavilion FSR has been downgraded to evacuation alert.
BC Wildfire Service reports that the downturn in weather is continuing, with temperatures around 17 degrees and relative humidity of 37 per cent expected to moderate fire behaviour. Only minimal precipitation is forecast, and rainfall will be variable across the fire’s area.
The fire is most active in the Big Bar Mountain area, and crews are using a variety of direct and indirect strategies. If conditions are suitable, small-scale planned ignition operations will be used to bring the fire’s edge to working ground north of Separating Lake.
South of Clinton, the fire remains within containment and contingency lines on the south flank, where crews are working to limit southward spread. From Allen Creek to the fire’s southeasternmost point, crews are extinguishing hotspots 50 to 100 feet from the perimeter.
Demobilization is ongoing in areas where members of the public have returned home. Residents are reminded that wildfire-impacted areas pose significant hazards to public safety, and anyone travelling through them should exercise extreme caution. Hazards associated with wildfires include:
– danger trees, which have been impacted by wildfire and have the potential to fall unexpectedly
– heavy equipment, aircraft, and personnel engaging in suppression activities
– ash pits, which may be hard to detect and can remain hot long after the flames have died down
– unstable soils and terrain
– increased potential for landslides or rock falls
– damaged trails or irregular trail surfaces
– increased water runoff, which could lead to flooding or debris flows
For more information about evacuation orders and alerts issued in response to the Pear Lake wildfire, visit the TNRD’s Emergency Operations Centre Dashboard. For information about the Pear Lake fire, and all other wildfires burning in the province, visit the BCWS interactive map.