Most of Vernon, B.C., on evacuation alert due to White Rock Lake wildfire

The White Rock Lake fire burning between Kamloops and Vernon, B.C., has prompted an evacuation alert for most of the city of Vernon, which has a population of around 40,000.

This means residents must be ready to leave their homes at a moment's notice.

The city tweeted the decision was based on advice from B.C. Wildfires.

"The decision was made out of an abundance of caution based on the advice of BC Wildfire due to increased fire activity & increased ember debris," it said.

The entire city of Vernon is on an evacuation alert excluding:

• The Predator Ridge neighbourhood/ Sparkling Hills resort.
• Okanagan Landing south neighbourhoods.
• Commonage area south of Bench Row Road.

On Saturday afternoon, evacuation alerts were rescinded for Electoral Area B, east of Okanagan Lake, Electoral Area C, west of Forsberg Road, and the District of Coldstream from the north boundary to the south boundary in the area west of Grey Road.

Armstrong, Spallumcheen also under alert

Meanwhile, nearly 10,000 residents in the city of Armstrong and the township of Spallumcheen are also on evacuation alert. And at 11 p.m. PT, another alert was issued by Regional District North Okanagan.

The Central OkanaganRegional Districtissued an evacuation order for almost 1,000 properties along Westside Road late Friday evening, telling residents to leave immediately. The properties had previously been on evacuation alert.

Also, theOkanagan Indian Band has issued an evacuation order for properties on the east side of Okanagan Lake. There wasalready an evacuation order for properties on the west side of the lake.

Bruce Smith, an information officer with the emergency operations centre in Central Okanagan, said gusty winds prompted the order.

"They were on alert and were advised to be prepared to leave with little or short notice," Smith said. "Unfortunately tonight the conditions changed, and we had to put the area into an evacuation order."

As of Friday night, the White Rock Lake wildfire wasan estimated 550 square kilometres in size.

B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworthsaid earlier Fridaythat the fire west of Okanagan Lakewasthe province's highest priority. It ripped through the community of Monte Lake overnight, destroying many properties.

An update from B.C. Wildfire Service on Friday evening saidsouthwesterly winds, gusting up to40 kilometres an hourwerechallenging suppression efforts. The service said the fire wasgrowingalong its eastern perimeter.

Before the most recentdirectives, evacuationorders hadalready been in place for:

• Over 600 properties in the Westwold, Monte Lake, Falkland and Cedar Hill areas.
• 373 properties in the vicinity of Pritchard.
• 544 properties under the jurisdiction of the Central Okanagan Regional District, including all properties in Westshore Estates.
• 608 properties from the south of Westshore Estates along Westside Roadfrom Killiney Beach, including Ewings Landing.
• Properties in the Six Mile-Nashwito area and Newport area for the Okanagan Indian Band.

Evacuation alerts in which residents must be ready to leave at a moment's notice had been issued for:

• 2,500 properties in Kamloops'Campbell Creek, Barnhartvale and Dallas neighbourhoods, southeast of the city's downtown core.
• 117 properties near Highway 1 and the Kamloops city limits.
• 1,400 properties in the Central Okanagan Regional District, residents living in Westside Road communities and subdivisions south of La Casa Lakeside Resort to north of Traders Cove (intersection of Bear Lake Main Forest Service Road and Westside Road).
• The village of Chase and 83 homes southwest of the village under the jurisdiction of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
• The Canadian Lake View Estates, Adventure Bay, Tronson Road, Rise, Turtle Mountain and Blue Jay communitiesin Vernon.

Anyone placed under an evacuation order should leave the area immediately.

Evacuation centres have been set up throughout the province to assist anyone evacuating from a community under threat from a wildfire. To find the centre closest to you, visit theEmergency Management B.C. website.

Evacuees are encouraged to register withEmergency Support Servicesonline, whether or not they access services at an evacuation centre.