By Canadian Press

Evacuation orders near Grand Forks, B.C., as U.S. wildfire threatens to cross border

Sep 25, 2024 | 5:58 PM

GRAND FORKS, B.C. — Tactical evacuations are underway outside the B.C. southern Interior town of Grand Forks, as an out-of-control wildfire in Washington state surges north and threatens to cross the border.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary says the evacuations are taking place west of Grand Forks as embers from the Goosmus wildfire shower the area.

Emergency Info BC says evacuation orders posted Wednesday are in place for west of Highway 41 and south of Highway 3, as well as properties west of Highway 3 from Sleepy Hollow Rd to Phoenix Rd.

It says residents need to evacuate immediately because the fire poses a threat to human life.

The district says residents should leave via Highway 3 and go to the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena in Grand Forks, and wait in their vehicles until the reception centre opens.

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The district says those who are unable to evacuate should call 911.

The BC Wildfire Service dashboard says the fire was discovered Wednesday and is about two square kilometres in size.

Mark Stephens, director of the district’s emergency operations centre, called it “a very fast-moving and developing situation.”

“We ask everyone to stay vigilant and to keep checking the (regional district’s) website for information,” he said in an online statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2024.

The Canadian Press