Additional evacuation orders downgraded to alerts in Barnes Lake area near Ashcroft

UPDATE: 10:56 a.m.

Residents will be allowed to return to more properties in the Ashcroft area after the Thompson-Nicola Regional District on Tuesday morning downgraded evacuation orders in place for seven Barnes Lake addresses.

The order was downgraded to an alert just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday for 2606 Kirkland Ranch Rd., as well as properties between 2000 and 2480 Hwy. 97C.

Forty-three properties in the area remain under evacuation order. (For more on those properties, click here.)

This story will be updated as more information becomes known.

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UPDATE: 7:15 a.m.

Some evacuation orders and alerts have been downgraded for homes near the Tremont Creek wildfire burning near Ashcroft.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has downgraded 60 properties in Walhachin from an evacuation order to an evacuation alert:

• 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.

In addition, an evacuation alert has been rescinded to an all clear for following 173 properties in Thompson River Estates and Semlin Valley:

• 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

The TNRD notes that Savona remains on alert.

UPDATE: 6:50 a.m.

DriveBC advises Highway 97C has reopened near Ashcroft, however limited visibility remains due to the wildfire burning in the area.

The situation is expected to be updated as conditions change.

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ORIGINAL: 6:20 a.m.

A wildfire burning near Ashcroft has closed Highway 97C.

DriveBC advises the highway has been closed due to heavy smoke and wildfire activity at the Tremont Creek wildfire.

The closure follows a travel advisory issued overnight.

The closure is between Highland Valley Copper Mine and Mesa Vista Drive. An estimated time of reopening is not available.

Detour via Highway 1 heading east towards Kamloops.

In a Monday night update, the BC Wildfire Service says the fire has burned an estimated 12,061 hectares and remains out of control.

There continued to be significant fire behaviour on Monday, driven by high winds and high temperatures on the southern flank of the fire.

Crews were 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.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for the Village of Ashcroft, Ashcroft and Oregon Jack Creek Indian Bands, and and homes in Thompson-Nicola Regional District Electoral Area I (Blue Sky Country).

An evacuation alert is in place for properties in Electoral Area J (Copper Desert Country).

Sixty firefighters are assigned to the blaze, supported by seven helicopters and 34 pieces of heavy equipment.