Little Fort residents ordered to evacuate

Jul 7, 2017 | 6:30 PM

LITTLE FORT, B.C. — As of 11pm on Friday, July 7th the TNRD has issued multiple evacuation orders, and alerts near Little Fort, and Dunn Lake.

Residents of Little Fort say a storm cell sparked two new wildfires near the community this afternoon.

Margaret Houben, who works at the Little Fort Store, says the cell came through at about 3:30.

“A little tiny cell blew through. It was very windy, it rained for two seconds, and a little bit of thunder and that’s what did it.”

Houben says the flames from one fire, just north of the village, are visible from the community, but are on the east side of the North Thompson River, away from most homes.

“It was just a tiny little – like one tree on fire initially, and now it’s a pretty darn big area.”

The second fire is just south of the community, but on the same side of river as the village.

Houben says the community is a bit nervous, but hoping the wind will work in its favour.

“It depends on which way the wind’s blowing. Right now, the plume’s a lot bigger than when it started.”

A spokesperson from the Kamloops Fire Centre says crews are still trying to locate the fires and get a handle on what resources are needed to address them.