Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park evacuated due to wildfire threat

PENTICTON – Everyone in Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park in the Similkameen is being told to leave thanks to the raging Placer Mountain wildfire.

An evacuation alert issued for the Cathedral Lakes Lodge on Sunday has been elevated to an evacuation order today, Aug. 1, by the regional district’s Emergency Operations Centre. B.C. Parks has also closed the Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park and Protect area, so all guests and hikers are being asked to leave immediately.

Authorities are concerned about the threat to human safety and the potential loss of road access to the park that would leave no way to get out.

The 1,500-hectare Placer Mountain wildfire is burning out of control about 37 kilometres south of Princeton.

B.C. Wildfire Service has over 100 firefighters on the ground supported by 9 helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment to battle the lightning-cause blaze.

Strong winds yesterday fanned the flames and the wildfire grew to the north and west, B.C. Wildfire says.

Crews continue to build a fuel free line south from the Ashnola River along a scree slope today, while other firefighters continue to mop-up successful burn-offs intended to reinforce the perimeter along the eastern flank.

The park is not unfamiliar with forest fires. Last year, the Diamond Creek wildfire in Washington State burning across the Canada-U.S. border and forced the evacuation of around 50 staff and guests at the Cathedral Lakes Lodge.

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For more information:

Go here for the latest information, evacuation orders and alerts, from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre.

The latest information on the impact from wildfires on B.C. parks is available here.

For the latest on road closures go to the Drive B.C. website here.

For the latest information on air quality go here.

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