A significant update for Wahlachin-area properties impacted by the Tremont Creek wildfire as the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has downgraded an evacuation order to an evacuation alert.

In all, 60 properties in Electoral Area “I” (Blue Sky Country) are affected as follows:

• 3565 Anglesey Ranch Rd;
• 156 to 172 Barclay St;
• 4221 to 4225 Bass St;
• 4336 to 4372 Central Ave;
• 4208 Collins St;
• 1425 Evans Rd;
• 4309 to 4323 Newbold Rd;
• 4373 Railroad Ave;
• 120 to 148 Thompson Cres;
• 4236 to 4529  Walhachin Rd;
• 40 to 100 Walhachin Station Rd;
• 4308 to 4315 Wilkinson St; and
• any other properties located within the area noted on the attached map.

“This Evacuation Alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary,” the TNRD said. “Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.”

Those properties were put on an evacuation alert on July 14 before being ordered to evacuate three days later, on July 17.

If you are returning home, there is information here.

Further, the TNRD has rescinded an Evacuation Alert for 173 properties in Thompson River Estates and Semlin Valley as follows:

• 6141 to 6872 Ashcroft Rd;
• 1352 and 1353 Bale Rd;
• 1400 Coyote Valley Rd;
• 1304 to 1341 Dogwood Rd;
• 528 to 1080 Hwy 97C;
• 1057 to 1269 Kozy Rd;
• 6272 to 6753 Pinecrest Dr;
• 1324 to 1337 Pinecrest Pl;
• 1415 and 1416 Ranch Rd;
• 210 to 361 Rattlesnake Rd;
• 6740 Spur Rd;
• 1496 to 1560 Steelhead Rd;
• 6100 to 6272 Sundown Rd;
• 1260 and 1264 Thompson Crt;
• 1269 to 6989 Thompson River Dr;
• 1698 to 6945 Trans-Canada Hwy
• 6711 to 6873 Valley Rd;
• 1244 to 1380 Walhachin Rd; and
• any other properties as identified on the attached map.

Properties in Savona, Cache Creek, and Ashcroft remain on an Evacuation Alert for now, while properties around Barnes Lake are still on an evacuation order.

The Tremont Creek wildfire is still burning out of control at an estimated 12,061 hectares in size though it is expected to be larger than that.

“There continues to be significant fire behaviour, driven by high winds and high temperatures on the southern flank of the fire,” the BC Wildfire Service said, in a statement.

“Crews have been forced to pull back to safety zones and will continue to work on containment when safe to do so. Due to smoky conditions over the fire, getting an updated perimeter continues to be a challenge.”

Yesterday, the BCWS said the north flank of the fire, from Barnes Lake to Walhachin was showing no fire behaviour with crews monitoring it for any hotspots.

“Crews are securing machine guard from Barnes Lake south around the perimeter to the east flank by using small scale hand ignitions to remove fuel between the fire and the machine guard,” the statement said.

“Heavy equipment is working on building contingency guard on the east side of the fire.”

The Tremont Creek Fire has been burning for two weeks after it broke out on July 12. A cause of the fire is not yet known.

For the latest on Evacuation Orders and Alerts in the TNRD, go here.