(Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen)

By Pete McIntyre

Alerts and orders in place

Mayor says ember drift from fire main concern for Spallumcheen

Aug 17, 2021 | 7:30 AM

Spallumcheen’s mayor says about 50 percent of residents served with evacuation orders left their homes Sunday night, while more made their way out of the area Monday.

Christine Fraser said some of the residents may have not known about the order on Sunday night, with just over 300 homes impacted by the order that covers the south-west sector of the municipality.

All other properties on the west side of Highway 97A in Spallumcheen are on alert, as is the entire City of Armstrong.

Evacuation order and alert zones in Spallumcheen (Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen)

The mayor isn’t sure how long the alert and order could stay in place.

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“We’re hopeful that it is continued for today based on the current conditions, but as we found yesterday, conditions can change very quickly, so it’s really important if you are in an evacuation alert area that you are really prepared.”

Listen to interview with Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser on the evacuation order issued on Sunday evening.

Fraser said one of the main concerns for Spallumcheen has been ember drift from the White Rock Lake fire.

“I would say that’s definitely the concern. We’re hoping with the weather, the way it is right now, it will help firefighters out, but as I said, our fire department is doing everything — the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Department — and support from our mutual aid partners, we’re trying to make sure we watch for spot fires and for any new fires that pop up.”

Fraser is not aware of any spot fires starting in her community the last couple days.

The mayor said about 25 people went to stay at the IPE fairgrounds in Armstrong with their RV’s and/or animals after being evacuated Sunday night.