Wildfire causing evacuation alert for Westwold now at 2,500 hectares

A wildfire burning roughly 56 kilometres northeast of Merritt has reached 2,500 hectares in size.

The White Rock Lake wildfire was first discovered July 13 and last night, the Thompson Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation alert for the unincorporated settlement of Westwold and for properties along Highway 97.

The fire is classified as out of control, and in the B.C. Wildfire Service’s latest update, July 16, it said the wildfire was displaying “moderate fire behavior that continues to be driven by winds.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For more information on evacuation alerts, visit the regional district’s website.

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