BREAKING: TNRD, District of Logan Lake issue evacuation alerts due to nearby wildfire

UPDATE (8:45 p.m.): BCWS has updated the fire size to 88 hectares.

DriveBC also announcing that Highway 97C between Junction Highway 97D and the Highland Valley Copper Mine has reopened. . However thick smoke may caused impaired visiibity on the highways and authorities are asking for drivers to use caution on the highways this evening.

EARLIER :   The fast-spreading Guichon Creek wildfire west of Logan Lake has prompted parallel evacuation alerts from the District of Logan Lake and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD).

Within the District of Logan Lake, the evacuation alert covers about 49 properties on either side of Highway 97C to the west of the townsite.

The map showing the alert area can be seen below. For more information, visit the District of Logan Lake website.

(Image Credit: District of Logan Lake)

In addition to the properties within municipal boundaries, the TNRD has issued an evacuation alert for seven properties along Tunkwa Lake Road to the north, within Electoral Area ‘J’.

Those properties are shown in the below map. More information can be found at the TNRD website.

(Image: TNRD Website)

All residents of properties under evacuation alert should be ready to leave on very short notice.

The Guichon Creek wildfire was first noticed during the 2:00 p.m. hour Wednesday (July 29). The latest mapping estimate from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) shows the fire at 15 hectares.

BCWS says the fire is displaying Rank 3-to-4 behaviour, meaning “with an organized flame front, moderate rate of spread, and short-range spotting.”

Two-dozen firefighters are attacking the blaze, along with aerial resources and heavy equipment.