Image Credit: contributed

By Dylana Kneeshaw

WESTWOLD AREA FIRE

Visibility and terrain creating challenges for crews fighting White Rock Lake wildfire: TNRD

Jul 20, 2021 | 4:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — As of Tuesday afternoon (July 20), BC Wildfire Service data shows the White Rock Lake fire near Westwold is still burning out of control at more than 4,300 hectares.

Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board Chair Ken Gillis said they’ve been told by the BC Wildfire Service that providing tanker support for the Salmon River valley near Westwold has been challenging.

“The valley is narrow, and those aircraft have to come down within 100 feet of the treetops in order to drop the retardant,” Gillis explained, “Otherwise the retardant disperses too much and it becomes virtually ineffective.”

The TNRD has issued evacuation orders to 41 properties in the area – with the rest of Westwold on evacuation alert. Gillis says how quickly the fire has moved towards rural properties is worrisome.

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“Between the smoke, and the terrain itself, they simply can’t get tanker relief in there for those people in Westwold,” Gillis stressed, “So I’m really concerned about Westwold.”

The latest update from the BC Wildfire Service website states additional ground crews is expected to arrive in the coming days.