File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Embleton Mountain Fire

Wind shift helped firefighters gain the upper hand on Embleton Mountain fire: BCWS

Jul 23, 2021 | 10:37 AM

WHITECROFT, B.C. — Whitecroft residents are heading back home Friday (July 23) as the community’s evacuation order was lifted by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Thursday evening.

The order was first enacted on July 10 due to the raging Embleton Mountain fire just north of the community.

Fire Information Officer Noelle Kekula with the B.C. Wildfire Service says there are a couple of factors that have helped firefighters gain the upper hand.

“Great fighting and a team effort — and the winds,” Kekula told CFJC Today. “They were calm last night and they were calm again today, so we take advantage of that and continue to build guard.”

Calmer wind conditions have combined with cooler nighttime temperatures and higher relative humidities, allowing firefighters to make better progress when the sun goes down.

Question of the Week

With B.C. moving to end the time change, do you prefer permanent Daylight Savings Time, permanent Standard Time, or the status quo?

Mar 02, 2026

1000 WAYS TO HEAL

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: What are we doing with the land in Kamloops?

Mar 02, 2026

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 2, 2026

Mar 02, 2026

“Now what will be happening is the crews will start tightening that line,” noted Kekula. “We use wet line — we use real water — to tighten it or burn off any fuels that remain between the guard and the perimeter of where the fire is.”

Evacuation alerts for nearby Heffley Lake and Sun Peaks have been rescinded to all-clear, and residents of 139 properties in the Whitecroft area are able to return home.

However, Kekula notes they will still see plenty of smoke and fire suppression activities taking place. Whitecroft remains on evacuation alert.

“If the wind picks up, an alert is an alert,” said Kekula. “If the winds decide to change and pick up again… this is still an out-of-control fire. It just means we haven’t seen growth and we’re getting some guards and some strengthening of our guards on that one.”