At least a dozen properties near Big Bar Lake destroyed by Fiftynine Creek fire: TNRD

According to the TNRD, some of the other impacted properties in Electoral Area “E” (Bonaparte Plateau) have damage like melted siding.

Mikhail Elsay, an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service, said crews were focused on trying to hold the Fiftynine Creek fire to just south of Big Bar Road.

“Our crew is currently engaged in a bit of a firefight there to try to keep the fire from travelling any further north,” he said, noting the fire had burned up to control lines on the fire’s northern flank. Elsay added conditions were particularly challenging near the fire’s southeast corner.

“Once this fire has evolved a bit and the safety of the situation on the ground starts to change, we will start to look at the potential for folks getting in to take a look at their properties firsthand,” TNRD manager of community and emergency services Kevin Skrepnek said at a Thursday afternoon community briefing.

The Fiftynine Creek fire is an estimated 109 square kilometres in size, and Thursday (July 23) morning, the TNRD expanded evacuation orders and alerts. There are now approximately 193 properties in the TNRD on evacuation order and another 105 properties on evacuation alert from this fire.

That’s up from Wednesday’s estimate of 182 properties on evacuation order and 93 properties on evacuation alert. The Village of Clinton remains on evacuation alert as well.

“We’re talking with probably dozens of people every day especially from the Big Bar Lake area,” Davies added. “It’s a bit of a helpless feeling when people are on order wondering when it will be lifted. It’s pretty fluid right now, its day-by-day is what we’re telling them.”

Evacuation orders and alerts are also in place around the nearby French Bar Creek fire and the Pear Lake Fire, but Davies said at this time, there are no reports of any structures lost at those fires.

Around 65 firefighters, 13 helicopters, 57 heavy equipment vehicles and 77 structure protection resources are fighting the Big Bar Complex fires, which include the French Bar Creek and Pear Lake wildfires.

– With files from The Canadian Press

by Victor Kaisar

At least a dozen properties near Big Bar Lake destroyed by Fiftynine Creek fire: TNRD

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