All of Ashcroft, parts of Cache Creek placed on evacuation alert

The entire village of Ashcroft and the Ashcroft Indian Band are on evacuation alert Friday (July 19), thanks to the approaching Shetland Creek wildfire.

Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Roden signed the alert status as of 12:00 noon Friday, declaring a local state of emergency in parallel.

Residents of areas under alert need to be ready to leave on very short notice.

Evacuation orders have also been expanded due to the looming threat.

Three more properties in the Thompson Nicola Regional District’s (TNRD) Electoral Area ‘I’ are under order, bringing the total within the TNRD to 88.

The number of properties under alert within the TNRD is now up to 222, an increase of 52 from earlier in the day.

Eight properties in Ashcroft have been ordered evacuated, including Ashcroft Manor and Ashcroft Ranch.

The Shetland Creek fire ballooned in size overnight. As of the noon hour Friday, it is listed at 13,236.1 hectares, with winds pushing it to the north.

Nearby Cache Creek has also issued an alert for a series of properties on the southern edge of the village, near the Boston Flats subdivision.

The properties affected are as follows:

• 1058, 1298 and 1334 Coyote Valley Road
• All properties at the Cache Creek Regional Airport
• 945 Campbell Hill Drive West
• 205 Patterson Road
• 1100, 1101, 1170 and 1180 Campbell Hill Drive East

Meantime, the Ministry of Transportation has placed a travel advisory on the Trans Canada Highway through the fire area. Check drivebc.ca for updates.