Wildfire evacuation orders issued for Pear Lake region near Clinton, B.C.

Two regional districts have issued evacuation orders in response to the Pear Lake wildfire burning approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Clinton in the B.C. Interior.

On Monday, July 20, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order for Downing Provincial Park day use and campground areas. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has issued evacuation orders for properties between 100 and 400 Pear Lake Road, as well as for properties between 650 and 980 Pavilion-Clinton Road.

Evacuees are being directed to Emergency Support Services centre at Clinton Memorial Hall at 306 LeBourdais Avenue, staffed by eight volunteers available daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The TNRD has also issued an evacuation alert for approximately 38 properties in Electoral Area E (Bonaparte Plateau) in the affected areas.

The Pear Lake wildfire was discovered Friday, July 17, and is suspected to have been lightning-caused. As of Monday afternoon it had grown to 30 hectares and is burning in steep, difficult terrain. BC Wildfire Service is responding with ground crews, aviation resources, heavy equipment, and structure protection personnel.

Two other fires are burning in the same region: the Fiftynine Creek wildfire has grown to 10,277 hectares with evacuation orders for more than 130 properties at Big Bar Lake, while the French Bar Creek fire has reached 13,434 hectares with evacuation orders in effect. For more information, visit www.eoc.tnrd.ca or www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc.