Crews conducting controlled burns near wildfire outside 100 Mile House

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

This map shows the approximate perimeter of the Flat Lake fire southwest of 100 Mile House.

UPDATE: 7:04 p.m.

Crews working the Flat Lake fire near 100 Mile House were set to spark a series of controlled burns on Monday evening, after gusty winds scuttled similar previous plans.

In an update just before 5 p.m., the BC Wildfire Service said the burns were slated to get underway soon.

Residents in the area were told to expect smoke.

ORIGINAL STORY: 9:46 a.m.

Winds forced crews to call off a series of controlled burns on Sunday near 100 Mile House, where an aggressive wildfire continues to threaten hundreds of homes.

The Flat Lake fire is burning southwest of 100 Mile House, covering an estimated 32,194 hectares.

Firefighters had been planning to conduct a series of controlled burns on the west corner of the massive blaze on Sunday. They were cancelled due to wind, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Fifteen helicopters are aiding more than 90 firefighters on the ground, as well as 51 pieces of heavy equipment and another 21 structural protection personnel.

The Flat Lake fire was caused by lightning, according to the BC Wildfire Service. According to the agency's mapping data, the fire's perimeter is about 10 kilometres southwest of 100 Mile House municipal limits.

The District of 100 Mile House remains on evacuation alert due to the Flat Lake fire, as do a number of nearby rural areas. Multiple evacuation orders are also in effect. (For more on those, click here.)