Out of control wildfire near Princeton prompts evacuation alert
A wildfire burning out of control near Princeton has residents of 43 properties on evacuation alert.
The Dry Lake wildfire continues to burn today, Aug. 4, around 24 kilometres northwest of Princetown.
The fire prompted the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen to issue an evacuation alert yesterday for 43 properties along Highway 5A between McCaffrey Lake, MacKenzie Lake, Dry Lake, Round Lake and Allison Lake Provincial Park.
Lightning is the suspected cause, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
There are 29 personnel and 11 pieces of heavy equipment are working the fire today, along with four helicopters.
Air tankers also worked the blaze yesterday.
More than 40 wildfires, all of them under 25 hectares in size, are burning in the province as cool, wet weather has slowed the start of the wildfire season.
But the wildfire service reports lightning storms across the southern Interior sparked 22 new fires over the long weekend.
The wildfire danger map shows much of the southern quarter of the province is rated as high to extreme, but the majority of B.C. currently faces no more than a moderate risk.
Environment Canada is maintaining a heat warning for the north Thompson region, as temperatures are forecast to nudge 30 C, but cooler weather and rain is expected across B.C. by Thursday.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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