(UPDATE: Aug. 7 at 6 am): The Hullcar Mountain wildfire has once again ballooned in size and is now estimated to cover about 670 hectares of land.
In an update early this morning, the BC Wildfire Service upgraded the lightning-caused blaze to a "wildfire of note" – the most serious category.
That means the fire is "highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety," according to BCWS.
Last night the Columbia Shuswap Regional District announced an evacuation order for 17 properties.
EVACUATION ORDER for 17 properties on Salmon River Road, Deep Creek Road in Electoral Area D. See https://t.co/YK7A8V2rq2 for more info. https://t.co/jw2lHmk1VV pic.twitter.com/lFnLOMIxtv
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 7, 2024
It also added 25 properties to a previously issued evacuation alert.
Details on the evacuation situation can be found here.
In its latest update, BCWS said it had five helicopters attacking the fire, alongside several firefighter crews.
Writing on Tuesday, the agency added: "Tonight, two initial attack crews and structure protection resources will remain onsite overnight actioning the fire."
(Original story: Aug. 6 at 9:15 am): A wildfire burning just east of Salmon River Road in the North Okanagan has grown to 300 hectares since being discovered on Monday.
The latest size estimate from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), released this morning, is around four times bigger than what the fire was pegged at on Monday evening.
The Hullcar Mountain wildfire is located west of Armstrong, Enderby, Spallumcheen and Hwy 97A and north of Hwy 97.
It has prompted a pair of evacuation alerts from the Township of Spallumcheen and Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), which is affecting dozens of nearby properties.
The most-recent release from the CSRD this morning has urged people to avoid the area around the fire.
“The CSRD has heard complaints from residents in the area about heavy traffic and people stopping suddenly to take pictures and video of the wildfire along Salmon River Road,” the statement explained.
"Numerous residents under evacuation alert are moving livestock and other items along that route. We are asking non-residents to please avoid the area.”
The release also noted that members of CSRD Fire Services at the fire on Monday reported “wind-fuelled growth” primarily towards the south.
The BCWS says there were 26 personnel responding to the fire with support from three helicopters, two air tankers and two skimmer groups on Monday.
