Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service / White Rock Lake wildfire / August 1/21

By Dave Barry

Wildfire

White Rock Lake wildfire slowed by rain

Aug 2, 2021 | 8:52 AM

KAMLOOPS – Mother Nature finally helped wildfire fighting efforts Sunday, delivering much needed precipitation to the aggressive White Rock Lake wildfire southeast Kamloops.

The B.C. Wwildfire Service (BCWS) says the northern edge of the fire received up to 10 millimetres of rain Sunday. While it wasn’t enough to douse the blaze, it was enough to “provide a reprieve” for a day or two. That’s good news for residents of Westwold who have suffered through a series of nervous days and nights watching the fire move towards them.

The southern edge of the fire saw little precipitation. With temperatures expected to be in the mid-20’s today (Aug. 2) and wind gusts up to 30 km/hr, the fire is expected to remain active.

Sunday the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) partially upgraded the Evacuation Alert area to an Evacuation Order for 49 properties in the Electoral Area B, above Westside Road, north of the Central Okanagan Regional District boundary, west of the Okanagan Indian Band IR #1 and south and west of Six Mile Creek Road. The Evacuation Order for 20 properties and Evacuation Alert for 23 properties remains in effect.

In addition, the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) partially upgraded the Evacuation Alert to an Evacuation Order for areas below the Whiteman Creek drainage, south of the Mud Hole, including Parker Cove and Whiteman subdivision. The existing Evacuation Alert for the remainder of OKIB IR#1 Reserve up to Newport Beach including but not limited to Newport Beach, Old Mill site, Komasket Part Area, 6 Mile, Parkers Cove, and Whiteman’s Creek is still in place.

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And the Evacuation Alert issued Friday for properties in the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO) was raised to an Evacuation Order. In addition, a State of Local Emergency has been issued for the RDCO along North Westside Road resulting in an Evacuation Order for all properties in Westshore Estates.

The fire is estimated to have grown to over 32 thousand hectares. 118 firefighters, 11 helicopters and 42 pieces of heavy equipment are assigned to the fire.