Precipitation halts spike in fire behaviour on Pear Lake wildfire

The Peak Lake wildfire is measured at 66,871.2 hectares as of Tuesday night. It triggered multiple evacuation orders and alerts, including a total evacuation of the Village of Clinton.

While the Peak Lake wildfire crossed Highway 97 east of Clinton, the wildfire service says it’s burning into an old burn scar, which is helping decrease fire activity and behaviour as fuels are sparse.

Highway 97 from Clinton to 100 Mile House remains closed in both directions due to the nearby wildfire. Another update is due at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday. A detour is available via the Trans-Canada Highway from Cache Creek to Kamloops, Highway 5 North from Kamloops to Little Fort and Highway 24 from Little Fort to 100 Mile.

“Along the southeast flank of the fire where it is burning around the Village of Clinton, structure protection personnel and firefighting crews are focusing on structure defense,” the wildfire service states. “Crews will continue to focus on mopping up the fires edge in the Kelly Lakes area.”

As of Tuesday night, the wildfire service says 190 firefighting and 150 structure protection personnel are responding to the Pear Lake wildfire. Additionally, 19 helicopters and 76 pieces of heavy equipment are assisting.

A portion of hundreds of out-of-province firefighters en route to B.C. are expected to assist crews on the Pear Lake wildfire.

Further east, between Clinton and Loon Lake, the Rim Lake wildfire is measured at 2,122.5 hectares in size. Two properties within the Thompson-Nicola Regional District are under evacuation order.

The wildfire service says the Rim Lake wildfire is also currently burning in an old burn scar, which is helping to decrease fire activity and behaviour. On Tuesday, crews worked to establish containment lines and go direct where fire behaviour allowed.

by Aaron Schulze

Precipitation halts spike in fire behaviour on Pear Lake wildfire

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