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Kamloops  

Fires grow, force evacuation

Two wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Region have grown significantly since they were discovered Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of two homes.

The Allie Lake wildfire, burning 55 kilometres northwest of Kamloops, has grown to an estimated 800 hectares, up from 60 hectares Thursday morning.

The fire, which is near the perimeter of the destructive 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire, is currently not threatening any buildings.

The Xusum Creek fire meanwhile, which is burning about 35 km west of Lillooet, is estimated to have grown to 300 hectares from 25 Thursday morning.

On Thursday afternoon, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District issued an evacuation order for two homes on Highline Road, while four other homes on the road have been placed under an evacuation alert.

Additionally, 25 properties in the McGillivray community remain under an evacuation alert.

Both fires continue to burn out of control.

Forty-five firefighters are fighting the blaze at Xusum Creek, along with air support and heavy equipment, while an additional 45 firefighters fight the Allie Lake wildfire with support from a airtankers and helicopters.



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