Buildings lost to fire

UPDATE: 7:55 p.m.

The fire has grown to 1000 hectares in size.

"The blaze has had considerable growth. We haven't been able to get near it because of the huge amount of smoke," said Kevin Skrepnek, Chief Inspector BC Wildfire. 

---

UPDATE: 5:55 p.m.

Buildings have been lost to the fire in Ashcroft.

Justine Hunse of the BC Wildfire Service said the blaze was burning across a seven-square-kilometre area outside Ashcroft.

"We have preformed a tactical evacuation in the area, which means that firefighters have gone door-to-door to evacuate folks at very short notice," she said.

The fire was partly within the boundaries of the Ashcroft Indian Reserve and structures have been "impacted," Hunse said. She could not confirm the extent of the damage.

Ashcroft resident Ian Douglas said he stood with a couple above the reserve and saw the flames destroy their home.

"A lady I know came up ... and just as she was getting there, she and her husband watched their house burn," he told radio station CHNL. "You could just see it go."

Douglas said he believes five of the 25 buildings on the reserve were destroyed.

- With files from The Canadian Press

---

UPDATE: 5:40 p.m.

Highway 97 is closed both directions at the junction with Highway 99, north of Cache Creek, due to the wildfire, DriveBC reports.

No estimated time of opening is available.

---

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has declared a state of emergency, and the entire village of Cache Creek is being evacuated.

Mayor John Ranta said a rapidly moving wildfire is threatening the community.

Because of the potential danger to life and health, the municipality has ordered everyone within the Village of Cache Creek to evacuate.

Residents must leave immediately and report to the Emergency Social Services Reception Centre at McArthur Island Sports Lounge at 1665 Island Parkway, in Kamloops.

As well, TNRD residents of the following properties have been ordered to evacuate immediately:

• 1029, 1080, 1046, 897, 869, 1066, 1034, 1049, 992, 1022, 653, 1097, 1037 Highway 97C
• 1201, 529, 1277, Tumble Weed Rd.
• 488, 496, 508 Empter Frontage Rd.
• 1400 Coyote Valley Rd.
• 785, 828, Airport Rd.

Residents there should also report to the Kamloops reception centre.

It is also suggested that evacuees turn off the power and propane to their residences. 

---

UPDATE: 4:25 p.m.

Residents leaving the Ashcroft-Cache Creek area report thick smoke and a growing wildfire.

Castanet reader Jackie Jeppesen says she just drove through Cache Creek.

"Fire is almost to the highway on the north side of town on both the east and west side of the highway. People are evacuating," she said.

---

ORIGINAL: 1:35 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service is conducting "tactical evacuations" around a wildfire burning near Ashcroft.

Fire information officer Jody Lucius says structures are being impacted by the fire, and people are being asked to leave. She was unable to say whether any buildings have been lost.

The Trans-Canada Highway has been closed between Ashcroft and Cache Creek because of the fire, while Highway 97C has also been shut down at Ashcroft.

The fire was first spotted Thursday evening, about two kilometres southwest of the community.

Friday morning, it was pegged at two hectares, but has since grown to 50 hectares in size.

"It's burning out of control," said Lucius.

Earlier today, 25 provincial firefighters and one water tender were working the fire.

However, Lucius says with the growth of the fire, more personnel, heavy equipment and air support are being sent.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.