Village of Cache Creek evacuated due to Ashcroft wildfire

The village of Cache Creek, B.C., has been ordered evacuated as a wildfire that started near Ashcroftspreads out of control.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District in the B.C. Interiorhas declared a local state of emergency, forcingthe evacuation of approximately1,000Cache Creekresidents from their homes.

"I don't think it's entirely inaccurate to say we've never seen anything like this before," said Mayor John Ranta. "It's a very serious situation."

A prior evacuation order was issued for homesin the area between Cache Creek and Ashcroft.

The B.C. Wildfire Servicesays the blaze grewto 700 hectares from 50 hectares in just a few hours Fridayafternoon.

The fire began northwest ofAshcroft,near theAshcroftIndian Band, and spread north.

Rantasaid 30 trailer homes and two hangars by the village's airport have been destroyed. Another three or four homes belonging to the AshcroftIndian Band, he said, are also believed to have burned down.

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At this point, Rantasaid,most neighbourhoods are not under imminent threat, but everyone has been evacuated from the villagein the interest of public safety.

B.C.'s chief fire information officer, KevinSkrepnek, said48firefighters were battling the blaze with the help of several aircraft.

Major roads heading into the village have been closed in both directions, includingHighway 1 andHighway 97C, according to Drive BC.

BC Hydro saidpower is still out in the area for more than 1,300 people, although some of those haveevacuated from their homes.

The fire broke out yesterday but was estimated at only 2.1 hectares this morning.

Ashcroftresident Jennifer Schell said she and her husbandwatched the fire grow "right outside" of her house through the course of the afternoon.

"It's just eating up the mountainside right now," she said.

Water bombers and a helicopter have been circling above the fire, she said.

"There are a couple houses over there, so we're hoping and praying that everyone is OKand safe."

About 20 kilometres away, the owner of a ranch has been accepting horses from evacuees.

Cynthia Nichols from SundanceGuest Ranch saidfour horses were droppedoff.

"I'm hoping to get no more, because that means people are OK," she said.

Despite being a considerable distance away, she saidthe air in the area smells like smoke.