Princeton wildfire now 40 per cent contained

PENTICTON – The 3,300 hecatre Princeton wildfire is now 40 per cent contained.

Information meetings were held for the public at Princeton Fire Hall on July 16 and at the Erris Fire Hall July 15 with official from B.C. Wildfire, RCMP, Regional District, Town of Princeton and Emergency Social Services on hand to answer questions regarding the Princeton fire.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Princeton fire is 40 per cent contained, at an estimated 3,300 hectares.

Fire officials continue to monitor the fire, with a reassessment of evacuation orders expected Monday when winds are expected to ease up in the fire zone.

A further information session is scheduled at the Riverside Community Centre in Princeton for Tuesday, July 18 at 4 p.m.

A meeting at the Erris Fire Hall is also tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. July 18, depending on the movement of the fire and the closure of the Princeton-Summerland Road.

Residences under evacuation alert should make arrangements to deal with livestock and pets prior to being issued an evacuation order for their property. The Canadian Disaster Animal Relief Team are set up at the Princeton Rodeo grounds and can help remove and care for animals at no charge for people under evacuation order.

The regional district also reports a structure fire that took place in the Allison Lake area early yesterday morning, July 16, along Highway 5A north of Princeton was unrelated to wildfire activity in the area. Fire crews responded to the fire, which is north of current mandatory evacuation orders.

For the very latest information go to the Regional District Emergency Operations website.

— This story was updated at 2:58 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2017 to correct a date for the meeting at the Erris Fire Hall. Thanks to reader Richard Lawlor for pointing out the error.

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