Credit: Julie Bohnet- Facebook

By Doug Collins

Wildfire roundup

Hot weather will continue to cause problems for firefighters

Jul 12, 2021 | 10:11 AM

KAMLOOPS — The wildfire situation isn’t going to get any better with the hot temperatures expected today (Monday). Environment Canada says we’re looking at highs in the 35-38 range the next few days.

As of late Sunday night, 306 wildfires were reported burning in the province, 35 breaking out in the past two days. 100 over those fires are in the Kamloops Fire Centre, 72 in the Cariboo, 63 in the Southeast Centre, and 58 in the Prince George Centre.

Sixty-five percent of those are caused by lightning, 27 percent by unknown causes.

At the Sparks Lake fire, the weather Sunday challenged guards. An air tanker successfully prevented the fire from breaking a guard near Sedge Lake. 128 firefighters are working the blaze, along with 10 helicopters and 55 pieces of heavy equipment. Six structure protection crews are helping, along with ten Skeetchstn Fire Department crew members, and a number of other structure protection units are being put to use. The fire encompasses more than 40,000 hectares.

The Embleton Mountain wildfire west of Sun Peaks is at 290 hectares. Several alerts and orders were issued over the weekend. The fire is an interface fire and is classed as out of control with aggressive fire behavior yesterday.

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The road to Sun Peaks will remain closed except for permanent residents and employees. B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has a checkpoint on Heffley Louis Creek Road west of Whitecroft.

An evacuation alert was issued Sunday by Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality for all properties within its boundaries, due to the Embleton Mountain Wildfire. Residents are asked to prepare to evacuate using Sun Peaks Road to Heffley Louis Creek Road towards Kamloops. If this changes, a second evacuation route is available via the McGillivary Lake Forestry Road. Only year-round residents are being permitted to travel the Heffley-Louis Creek Road, and no one is being allowed to go up just for the day.

The Napier Lake fire is reported as being held, the Durand Lake fire southwest of Kamloops is still considered out of control, but there was no new growth Sunday.