First floods – now fires impact B.C’s summer playground

KELOWNA –  It’s a scene all too familiar to Albertans and one we wouldn’t wish on anyone. Barely a year after flames scoured Fort McMurray, another beast has surfaced in B.C’s summer playground and it is showing no mercy.

It is so bad, B.C. Forestry Minister John Rustad declared a State of Emergency Friday night.

  The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has put up an evacuation notice for homes about 10 kilometres north of Princeton. About 3000 residences have been evacuated, with evacuees sent to Kamloops, Williams Lake and Prince George.

Industrial operations in the Cariboo area have been suspended and an evacuation order is in place for a number of properties in the area.  As well, the Gustafsen fire west of 100 Mile House is estimated to be 3200 hectares in size and growing. Smoke being generated by the fire is making it difficult to ascertain its exact size.