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UPDATE: 8:05 p.m.
Two highways near Logan Lake are affected by closures due to the Tremont Creek wildfire, according to DriveBC.
Highway 97D is closed in both directions from Logan Lake East Pit Road and Highway 5.
Westbound lanes of Highway 97C are closed from the Highway 97D junction to Brolin Road.
An estimated time of opening is not available, according to DriveBC.
On Thursday evening, Teck spokesperson Chris Stannell told Castanet personnel at the Highland Valley Copper mine are closely monitoring fire activity in the region.
“The current evacuation order does not include Highland Valley Copper, and operations are continuing at this time utilizing alternate transportation routes to site,” Stannell said in a email statement.
“All employees are safe and there is currently no risk to infrastructure and workings of the operation.”
Stannell said they are supporting employees that live within the area affected by the evacuation order, including providing leave as required.
“Worker safety is our top priority and we have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place at Highland Valley Copper Operations,” Stannell said.
The District of Logan Lake has issued an evacuation order due to the Tremont Creek wildfire.
An updated map of the area under evacuation order is available on the district’s Facebook page.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District also issued an evacuation order and an evacuation alert on Thursday evening due to increased wildfire activity.
More information can be found on the TNRD website.
Evacuees are asked to register with Emergency Support Services and make arrangements to stay with friends or family if possible.
Several groups have offered to take in people with no place to stay.
Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir told Castanet there is plenty of room on the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc powwow grounds for more evacuees.
The Thompson River Estates campsite, located north of the Thompson River near Walhachin, is also open for those who need a place to stay, according to owner Tammy Peacock.
On their Facebook page, the Delta Kamloops also said they have rooms for Logan Lake evacuees.
UPDATE: 6:25 p.m.
As Logan Lake residents evacuate due to the Tremont Creek wildfire, many are opening up spaces for evacuees to stay.
Evacuees are welcome to stay at the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc powwow grounds, according to Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir.
Casimir said despite taking in those who have fled wildfires from Lytton to Monte Lake, they still have plenty of room for more.
Tammy Peacock, owner of Thompson River Estates, a campground located in the Walhachin area on the north side of the Thompson River, told Castanet she also has plenty of space for evacuees.
Peacock said her campground is located 20 minutes from Cache Creek and 45 minutes from Kamloops. She said travellers should follow blue and white camping and lodging highway signs down to the river.
“We are here for you. Cold drinks and warm hugs upon arrival,” Peacock said in a Facebook post.
“We are pet friendly and have a large fenced kennel to use.”
Evacuation orders were issued by the District of Logan Lake and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Thursday afternoon for properties in Logan Lake and some properties along Old Meadow Creek Road and Tunkwa Lake Road due to the Tremont wildfire.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has also issued an evacuation alert as of Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for the Cherry Creek area.
A map of the area affected by the alert can be found on the TNRD website.
“This evacuation alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary,” the TNRD said.
“Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.”
UPDATE: 5:25 p.m.
Personnel are being deployed to Logan Lake in order to assess buildings and install structure protection equipment in the community, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
In a social media post, the BCWS said the Tremont Creek wildfire experienced “significant growth” in the past 24 hours, escaping containment lines near Tunkwa Lake.
“Considerable spread to the south has prompted the BC Wildfire Service to recommend that the District of Logan Lake issue an evacuation order,” BCWS said.
BCWS said they are continuing to respond with ground crews, heavy equipment and aerial resources including helicopters, water skimmers and air tankers.
“Continued hot, dry conditions and gusting winds are expected to persist for the next 48 hours,” the agency said.
BCWS said this fire growth is not a result of the planned ignitions that occurred over the past two days further north, on Mount Savona.
An evacuation order was issued on Thursday afternoon for the District of Logan Lake.
The Thompson Nicola Regional District has also issued an evacuation order for 10 properties near Tunkwa Lake Road due to wildfire activity.
The order has been issued for properties from 8240 to 8700 Old Meadow Creek Rd. and 7753 to 7923 Tunkwa Lake Rd.
More information on the TNRD evacuation order can be found on their website.
Evacuees have been told to make their way to Chilliwack, and report to the Emergency Support Services reception centre at Chilliwack Senior Secondary school.
UPDATE: 4:39 p.m.
Evacuees from Logan Lake are being told to head to Chilliwack to register at the city's Emergency Support Services reception centre.
According to an update posted to the District of Logan Lake Facebook page, there is no accommodation available in Merritt or Ashcroft.
The district said evacuees should report to Chilliwack Senior Secondary school at 46363 Yale Road.
"There is no ability for lodging at this reception centre," the district said.
"Please be prepared to lodge with family or friends, or in your vehicle as accommodation is limited."
UPDATE: 4:16 p.m.
An evacuation order has been issued for the District of Logan Lake due to the Tremont Creek wildfire.
Mayor Robin Smith said the order was in effect as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
According to the district, evacuees should drive south on Highway 97C to Merritt. The secondary evacuation route is to take Highway 97C north to Ashcroft.
Residents have been told not to travel along Highway 97D towards Kamloops.
"Register online for Emergency Support Services en route," the district said.
Fire Information Officer Erin Bull told Castanet the wildfire is about seven kilometres from Logan Lake.
"We have continued to see increased fire behaviour throughout the day today, and continued growth primarily in the southern direction," Bull said.
UPDATE: 3:41 p.m.
An evacuation order is soon to be issued for the community of Logan Lake.
Castanet has confirmed the order with Mayor Robin Smith.
“We are currently processing the evacuation order as we speak, we would much appreciate your help getting that out,” says Smith.
Smith said the order was in effect as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
The BC Wildfire Service told Castanet the wildfire has seen continued growth throughout the day.
"We have continued to see increased fire behaviour throughout the day today, and continued growth primarily in the southern direction," said Erin Bull, fire information officer for BCWS.
Bull said the fire is about seven kilometres from Logan Lake.
ORIGINAL: 10:29 a.m.
While fire crews battling the Tremont Creek wildfire conducted successful controlled ignitions near Mount Savona Wednesday, increased activity in another area resulted in the fire crossing containment lines.
Fire Information Officer Erin Bull said the controlled ignitions that continued throughout Wednesday were “very successful.”
“The objectives of those were to bring the edge of the fire to pre-established control lines, and that all had gone very well,” Bull said.
However, eight kilometres to the south, the fire challenged guards located near Leighton Lake, escaping established containment lines.
Bull said the fire began expanding to the north and south in that area.
“That occurred yesterday evening and throughout the night last night,” she said.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, increased fire behaviour in the Leighton Lake area was not a result of controlled ignitions that occurred further north.
The BC Wildfire Service said ground crews and heavy equipment remained on scene to monitor the fire through the night and engage in suppression where possible. Structure protection is being deployed to assess properties in the Tunkwa Creek area.
“We do have crews working in that area today. We’ve requested some water skimmers to help strengthen further control in that area, but we are expecting some challenging fire conditions today and tomorrow as well,” Bull said.
Bull said Thursday and Friday are expected to bring increased temperatures and 20 km/h winds sweeping through the area.
On Thursday, there are 97 firefighters, 10 helicopters and 38 pieces of heavy equipment working on the Tremont Creek wildfire, with 17 structure protection personnel and one specialist also on site.
