File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly)

By James Peters

Wildfire Situation

City of Kamloops activates Emergency Operations Centre as wildfire south of city grows

Jul 23, 2023 | 11:57 AM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), indicating a heightened level of concern around the nearby Ross Moore Lake wildfire.

Speaking to CFJC Today Sunday (July 23), Director Greg Wightman says activating the EOC allows for great coordination and marshalling of emergency response resources.

“In the Emergency Operations Centre, we staff all the emergency management positions at a Level 2 activation — which is what we have currently,” said Wightman. “It just ensures we have all the resources required to respond to anything that may come forward.”

Both the City of Kamloops and the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) have evacuation alerts in the Knutsford area related to the fire. As of Sunday at noon, a total of 49 properties within the TNRD are under an evacuation order.

Wightman says the Ross Moore Lake fire has been showing aggressive growth since it was first discovered on Friday afternoon.

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“It was first reported on Friday. It’s currently sitting at 1,800 hectares, which grew from 700 (Saturday), so some significant growth overnight,” said Wightman. “We’ve got our Emergency Operations Centre activated to do whatever is required to support the response to this fire.”

Wightman strongly urges Kamloops and area residents to download and set up the Voyent Alert! app on their smartphones to receive up-to-the-minute updates on emergency messaging.

Residents are also asked to pay attention to local media and the City of Kamloops website for the latest information.