It害羞草研究所檚 the first time The Inn at Spences Bridge has been empty since April.
Dorothy Boragno, who owns the inn with her husband Michael Findlay, said Friday they watched thick smoke across the Thompson River from the out-of-control Shetland Creek wildfire that has already forced others to evacuate.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been through fires before, so we know what happens, and if they get close, usually we get firemen to stay at our hotel, so we害羞草研究所檙e not too worried yet. But it does bring back bad memories,害羞草研究所� said Boragno.
The Shetland Creek fire in the southern Interior more than doubled in size from Thursday to Friday, due to what the B.C. Wildfire Service said was 害羞草研究所渟ignificant overnight growth害羞草研究所� and more accurate mapping.
Its rapid spread was part of an eruption of wildfire activity across B.C., with more than 270 burning as of Friday afternoon, most caused by recent lightning storms, then fuelled by hot, dry weather and winds.
The Shetland Creek fire is now listed at 132 square kilometres in size, up from 57 square kilometres, and has prompted evacuation orders and alerts in the communities of Spences Bridge, Ashcroft and part of Cache Creek, east of Kamloops.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire advanced about six kilometres in a northwest direction parallel to Highway 1 Thursday night.
It is considered the only 害羞草研究所渨ildfire of note害羞草研究所� in B.C., meaning it is highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety or infrastructure.
The wildfire service says 71 firefighters and six helicopters are battling the blaze in addition to structure protection personnel, heavy equipment operators, and an incident management team.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded an evacuation order in front of the fire on Thursday evening to cover about 85 properties in the Venables Valley area, while the Cook害羞草研究所檚 Ferry Indian Band has issued orders for several reserves along the Thompson River.
Hundreds of other properties are subject to an evacuation alert, with the district telling them to be ready to leave on short notice.
The Village of Cache Creek on Friday issued an evacuation alert because of the fire out of an 害羞草研究所渁bundance of caution.害羞草研究所� The alert includes the Cache Creek Regional Airport and nine other properties, but the main sections of the village are not yet on alert.
The Village of Ashcroft is also under an evacuation alert and Mayor Barbara Roden said Friday that the fire害羞草研究所檚 aggressive behaviour is 害羞草研究所渧ery concerning.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淪o, residents are very on edge. They have been ever since this fire started and it was clear that it was going to be heading in this direction,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been thick smoke here for the last few days even though the fire is still several kilometres away, there害羞草研究所檚 ash falling on everything here in Ashcroft.害羞草研究所�
The nearby Ashcroft Indian Band, which is also on evacuation alert, posted a notice on Facebook Friday, saying band leaders understand that 害羞草研究所渆veryone is on edge with the Shetland Creek Fire burning nearby.害羞草研究所�
The statement said they are in constant contact with the BC Wildfire Service, getting updates when available and they appreciate everyone害羞草研究所檚 co-operation in conserving water they have in the reservoirs to 害羞草研究所渦se in a worst-case scenario.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚n the meantime, we have our maintenance and fire mitigation crews out in the community adding more fireguards around the south and east side. As an additional piece to our regular fire mitigation practices, they are clearing debris and flammable fuels from around power poles and hydrants and we have a water tank on a trailer with hoses ready to go.害羞草研究所�
Boragno said they are also ready to get out, with a cat cage and a bag of 害羞草研究所渟pecial stuff害羞草研究所� ready next to the door.
She said it was touching to see the whole town pull together with people helping each other out, because no one likes going through this.
害羞草研究所淚t brings back huge trauma for people who lost their homes and stuff,害羞草研究所� said Boragno.
Cliff Chapman with the BC Wildfire Service said Thursday the province appeared to be 害羞草研究所渙n the precipice of a very challenging 72 hours害羞草研究所� with hot weather, dry lightning and strong winds in the forecast.
Environment Canada on Friday issued a series of severe thunderstorm watches across much of the B.C. Interior, and a severe thunderstorm warning for the Stuart-Nechako region in the north.
The storms mostly overlap the almost 30 areas that are also under heat warnings, and while they may bring hail and rain, they also bring lightning and winds that trigger and fuel fires. The heat warnings span most of the southern Interior and stretch up through central B.C. into the northeast, along with inland sections of the north and central coasts.
The weather office says much of the Interior is expected to see temperatures in the 30s over the coming days, along with overnight lows in the mid-teens.
For Roden the forecast offers little hope for relief with temperatures topping 40 degrees, but she害羞草研究所檚 hopeful that people will remain calm and ready to leave if it comes to that.
害羞草研究所淪o, you害羞草研究所檝e got the smoke, you害羞草研究所檝e got the ash, you害羞草研究所檝e got the heat,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淎ll these factors coming together are making people very edgy, very nervous. They害羞草研究所檙e remembering fires past and, and it害羞草研究所檚 the uncertainty.害羞草研究所�
Roden said the village had fires in 2017 and 2021 害羞草研究所渙n our doorstep.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淧art of my job as mayor is to try to ensure that people don害羞草研究所檛 panic,害羞草研究所� she added. 害羞草研究所淚 cannot think of any situation that has ever been improved by people panicking.害羞草研究所�
These are the facts about British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 wildfire situation, according to the BC Wildfire Service dashboard at 12:45 p.m. Friday.
- Active fires: 271
- Wildfires of note: One, the Shetland Creek fire, Kamloops Fire Centre.
- Fires started in last 24 hours: 71
- Out-of-control fires: 150
- Active fire causes: Lightning 85 per cent, human 9 per cent, undetermined 6 per cent (percentages are rounded)
- Firefighting staff deployed: 967
- Aircraft deployed: 173
- Area burned since April 1: 6,276 square kilometres
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