Hundreds more properties around Clinton, B.C., were put under evacuation order Friday morning as the Pear Lake wildfire continues to burn out of control.
A new order from the Cariboo Regional District covers 366 land parcels, while an expanded order from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District adds another 536 addressed properties to nearly 600 already under order.
The Pear Lake wildfire, which has also prompted evacuations of Clinton and 70 Mile House, had scorched more than 732 square kilometres as of Friday morning.
Late Thursday, the Village of Clinton issued an update saying it had completed “rapid damage assessments” within the townsite, and informed all property owners affected by “major structure loss.”
“It has not yet been safe enough to complete ‘boots on the ground,’ in-depth assessments of these areas, so properties that have suffered minor damage may not have been notified at this point,” it said.
“Please know, the current situation remains unstable due to ongoing fire activity and further property damage may still happen as the situation progresses.”
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District also expanded an evacuation order late Thursday due to an out-of-control wildfire burning near Lillooet Lake.
The expanded order covers 16 addressed properties, along with Lillooet Lake Estates, Heather Jean Properties and the Strawberry Point recreation site.
The order is due to the Twin Two Creek wildfire, which was first spotted on July 17, and has grown to more 28 square kilometres in size.
Guichon Creek wildfire burning near Logan Lake
Across B.C., more than 30 evacuation orders are in place, as about 125 wildfires continue to burn.
Before Friday’s evacuation orders were issued, there were about 1,600 properties across B.C. under order, and another 3,000 under alert.
In a Thursday update, the B.C. Wildfire Service said widespread warming and drying conditions were expected to continue through the long weekend, particularly in the southeastern parts of B.C., raising the wildfire risk.
It added that more out-of-province wildfire crews were expected to arrive in the coming days to assist in the firefight.
