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UPDATE: 1:40 p.m.
Described as a beast, the Elephant Hill wildfire driving through the Cariboo and the Thompson regions continues to show active fire behaviour and is currently sitting at 70,387 hectares in size. That number is expected to grow once detailed mapping is carried out, said Kevin Skrepnek, BC Wildfire Service spokesperson.
He said hot and dry conditions and gusty winds pushed the fire along yesterday, prompting a number of evacuation orders, including the entire village of Clinton and up to Green Lake.
“Unfortunately the fire was able spot across the Bonaparte River, embers were picked up in the wind and were able to escape our containment lines on the west flank as well as on the northwest and northeast corners.”
Skrepnek said Highway 97 in that area remained closed except for emergency personnel and evacuees travelling out of the fire zone.
“Unfortunately the kind of conditions we saw out there yesterday, we expect to be continuing over the next few days so this is going to continue to be a real beast of a fire right now and it's going to continue to challenge our efforts out there.”
Skrepnek said there is not much lightning in the forecast for the next few days so any new fires over the coming days will be the result of human activity.
“Given the fact that we are entering what is traditionally one of our busiest times of the summer given how much activity we have already had, we really just need to encourage people to be as vigilant as possible when they are in the back country.”
A campfire ban remains in place and Skrepnek asks anyone using an off-road vehicle to stay away from tall grass.
ORIGINAL STORY: 9:13 a.m.
An additional 50 structural protection personnel have arrived on the fire lines of the massive Elephant Hill wildfire which is travelling towards communities in the Thompson and Cariboo regions. Sections of Highway 97 remained closed.
The 70,000 hectare wildfire jumped containment lines Saturday afternoon, leading to an evacuation order of the village of Clinton, all of 70 Mile House and properties south and east of Green Lake. Other areas are on evacuation alert.
Gusty winds saw the fire expand to the west and the northeast on Saturday afternoon, according to Rosalie MacAulay of the BC Wildfire Centre who is at the scene of the fire. A new estimate of the fire's size is expected to be released later on Sunday.
“We now have over 100 structural protection personnel sent in by the Office of the Fire Commissioner,” said MacAulay. “We have engines here from all over B.C., from Mackenzie to Nanaimo.”
The personnel are trained in the protection of residences and businesses.
McAulay said the Elephant Hill firefight currently involves:
- 357 firefighters
- 108 structural protection personnel
- 86 support staff
- 20 helicopters
- 69 pieces of heavy equipment
Hot and dry conditions continued in the region Sunday with wind gusts of up to 20 kph expected, she said.
Drive BC reported Sunday that Highway 97 remained closed at Loon Lake Road because of the forest fire while southbound lanes remained open to support the evacuation of 70 Mile House and Clinton. The alternate route included taking Highway 1, 5 and 24.
As well Highway 97 southbound was closed at the junction of Highway 97 and Highway 24. The highway would remain open between Clinton and Highway 24 for the evacuation only. An alternate route included: Highway 24, 5 and Highway 1.
