Tactical evacuations ordered due to wildfire east of Kamloops near Chase, B.C.

Yahoo

18 hours ago

Some members of the Neskonlith Indian Band land near Chase, B.C., have been told to evacuate due to a wildfire that started near their community in the B.C. Interior, about 200 kilometres northeast of Vancouver and 60 kilometres east of Kamloops.
The Neskonlith reception office said in a post to Facebook that the fire is burning near its administration office off Chief Neskonlith Drive on Harper Mountain Road, with a "mandatory evacuation of all surrounding area."
"Proceed with caution as fire is spreading rapidly," the post reads.
It was not immediately clear how many people were affected by the order, but maps show there are several residential and commercial properties near the office.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the fire was discovered at about 3 p.m. PT Monday, and is estimated to be four hectares or 0.04 square kilometres in size. The suspected cause is human, which is how all fires not caused by lightning are classified.
B.C. Wildfire information officer Taylor Shantz said the fire started near the community, prompting tactical evacuations, but said it is now burning eastward away from homes and buildings.
Tactical evacuations refer to those conducted by emergency crews by going door-to-door or directly contacting those who may be at risk, as opposed to a formal order given through local government.
Social media posts show smoke from the fire blowing into the nearby Village of Chase.
The population of the Neskonlith reserve land is just over 200, though not all would be living in the area affected by the evacuation, while Chase is home to about 2,300 people.
Evacuees are being directed to a reception centre in Chase, about five kilometres north of the fire.