BCWS moving more resources to Tremont Creek fire as crews, equipment become free

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

An air tanker drops retardant near Logan Lake earlier this month.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.

An evacuation order has been partially downgraded to an evacuation alert in an area of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District near the Tremont Creek wildfire.

The area includes 65 properties along Guichon Forest Service Road, Tunkwa Lake Road and Haywood-Farmer Road.

The full area can be seen on this map.

UPDATE: 3:25 p.m.

More resources are being thrown at the massive Tremont Creek wildfire burning west of Kamloops, with equipment and fire crews being moved from less active blazes.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Tremont Creek flames are difficult to extinguish due to the location of the fire.

“It's a tricky fire because we get areas of where quick progress can be made, and then they're mixed in with areas that require more time and attention,” said fire information officer Greg Jonuk.

But Jonuk said he expects Tremont Creek to be reclassified from out of control to being held at some point soon.

“We're talking about reducing the orders and alerts, and also we'll be looking at status changes to these fires to first being held and then under control,” Jonuk said.

Jonuk said smoke may still be visible on clear days, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the fire is more active.

“There still will be smoke seen within the perimeter of the fire station perhaps a day like this, where the smoke is the venting is really good,” he said.

ORIGINAL STORY: 2:26 p.m.

Less than two weeks after flames threatened hundreds of homes and businesses in Logan Lake, residents in the small community southwest of Kamloops are being given the all clear.

The District of Logan Lake rescinded its evacuation alert on Wednesday afternoon.

Logan Lake was evacuated on Aug. 12. Two days later, on Aug. 14, the Tremont Creek fire burned into Logan Lake’s municipal limits, but no structures were lost after firefighters worked throughout the night to fight the flames.

Residents were allowed to return home late last week.

Crews are still working the Tremont Creek blaze, now estimated at 63,523 hectares in size.

According to the latest update from the BC Wildfire Service, crews are working spot fires in the Jimmie’s Creek and Penny FSR areas and mopping up closer to Logan Lake.

“With the downturn in weather, structure protection is being removed as is appropriate in areas no longer at risk,” the agency said.