Similkameen wildfires result in evacuation order, alerts

A backcountry lodge has been ordered evacuated and nearly 900 homes placed on evacuation alert as a result of two wildfires burning out of control in the Similkameen.

The evacuation order was issued Wednesday for the Cathedral Lakes Lodge.

Officials fear it may become inaccessible due to the Placer Mountain fire, which originated about 37 kilometres southwest of Princeton.

The fire was pegged at 2,300 hectares as of Wednesday, up from 1,500 a day earlier, with 116 personnel, nine helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment battling it, according to BC Wildfire Service.

Meanwhile, 485 properties within Areas B and G of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and another 384 within the Village of Keremeos were placed on evacuation alert Tuesday night as a result of the Snowy Mountain fire.

That behemoth, which lit up about 14 kilometres south of Keremeos, had grown to 6,600 hectares as of Wednesday afternoon, double its size a day earlier. The BC Wildfire Service had 19 personnel, three helicopters and four pieces of heavy equipment working it.

“Smoke is drifting from the incident to adjacent areas, and the smoke column and open flame is visible from surrounding communities,” the service wrote in an update on its website.

The RDOS is advising anyone who needs help evacuating pets or livestock to call Alert Canada at 250-809-7152. Desert Park in Osoyoos is accepting horses and livestock at no cost. And the old animal shelter in Penticton is also accepting displaced pets.