The Columbia Shuswap Regional District is asking non-residents to avoid Salmon River Road, which currently has 59 properties under evacuation alert due to the Hullcar Mountain wildfire.

Salmon River Road resident Trudy Schweb, whose Schweb Family Cattle ranch is directly across from the fire, is getting frustrated with the added traffic from gawkers making the already stressful situation even more so. 

"The last couple of days have been brutal... a lot of people stopping to watch the fire, which I totally get, it's just there's some people being very unsafe, parking in very unsafe spots," she said. "This road is busy on a regular day, never mind with something like this happening."

She added that people are not parking all the way off the road, they're pulling over in tall grass and leaving their vehicles running, leaving garbage and just "not making wise decisions."

"We don't need some type of a secondary fire because of an accident, or someone flicking a cigarette butt out their window, or exhaust catching the grass on fire," said Schweb. "We have a lot to lose around here. Ranchers are a different breed. We are here to raise food for people, it's not a hobby."

The CSRD and SIlver Creek Fire Department (SCFD) have also both issued statements asking non-residents to be careful and considerate, and to not block the road. 

"Numerous residents under Evacuation Alert are moving livestock and other items along that route. We are asking non-residents to please avoid the area," a CSRD media release said, while a Facebook post from the SCFD stated "first responders are in the area and we need safe passage through the valley."

Though Schweb said the majority of their 270 cows are already safely out on range and in pasture, so they don't have a lot of livestock to move, there is still the rest of their operation to consider. 

"We just don't need the added worry, that's all," she added. "We're just trying to protect our assets."