Evacuees from Boston Bar flee nearby wildfires to Kamloops

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“It went up the mountain in a matter of minutes, just took right off,” recalled Budlansky. “And it’s very close to town, maybe two three kilometers of Boston Bar. The wind usually blows from south to north and if it keeps doing that today there is going to be a lot of problem in Boston Bar, the town will be in big trouble.”

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The two fires on the east side of the river are listed at over 16,000 hectares and 4,000 hectares respectively, the fire on the west side more than 5,000 hectares.

Kamloops is expecting over 100 evacuees to receive services at McArthur Island.

“Preliminary numbers came in last night around 120 evacuees could be coming our way from the Boston Bar area,” said Will Beatty, City of Kamloops emergency operations centre director. “With increased fire behavior, BC Wildfire Service recommended tactical evacuations for folks that were still in the evacuated area, so that is what we are here today doing is we are supporting those folks and getting them the support that they need.”

Emergency Support Services provides evacuees with immediate supplies such as lodging, food vouchers, clothes and more.

“Basic needs are normally suppose to be met for 72 hours, that is what you would see for like a level one house fire. In larger scale evacuations like this you will see supports extended sometimes to 7 or 14 days,” said Beatty. “Right now, I’m not aware of the what the extension has been requested by the province. But we will follow the lead of the lead agency that has been evacuated.”

Bundlasky’s home, being further north than Boston Bar, is safer than most, but concern remains for family, friends and the community as a whole.

“If the winds pick up with all the heat today it could easily head towards town, no problem,” said Budlansky. “Like I say, it’s probably just three kilometers maybe from town where the fire is on the other side of the river now.”