TNRD downgrades evacuation order to alert for 41 properties, with two remaining on evacuation order

Photo: Contributed

The Tremont Creek fire is burning between Ashcroft and Walhachin.

UPDATE: 6:44 p.m.

A portion of the evacuation order issued due to the Tremont Wildfire near Barnes Lake in Electoral Area “I” (Blue Sky Country) has been downgraded to an evacuation alert.

The effected 41 properties can be found here.

The two remaining properties under evacuation order are the following:

• 1886 and 1924 Woods Creek FSR;
• Any properties located on the map below.

Photo: TNRD

ORGINAL: 1:56 p.m.

A 200-square-kilometre fire burning out of control between Ashcroft and Savona is expected to grow, according to officials.

The Tremont Creek fire was discovered on July 12 southeast of Ashcroft. It has grown significantly in the weeks since, and is now among the largest fires burning in the province.

Last week, the fire threatened homes and other infrastructure in Walhachin, but that flank of the fire — the northeast — is no longer posing a problem for crews.

“The fire continues to be extremely active on the southeast flank and will most likely continue to increase in size,” the BC Wildfire Service said Thursday in an update.

“The northern flank of the fire from Barnes Lake to Walhachin has very minimal to no observed fire activity. The southwest corner near Barnes Lake and Highway 97C was a priority objective yesterday, with crews finishing the remaining planned ignition between the guard and the fire.”

Officials said the Tremont Creek fire is challenging guards to the southeast, spreading “moderately.” Logan Lake is about 25 kilometres southeast of the fire, according to mapping as of Wednesday.

The size estimate of the fire remains just under 20,000 hectares as of Thursday afternoon.

This story will be updated as more information becomes known.