Evacuation orders, alerts due to wildfire near Hope, B.C. no longer in effect
Evacuation orders and alerts that were issued due to a wildfire burning near Hope, B.C., have been rescinded, according to local authorities.
The Flood Falls Trail wildfire was first discovered last Thursday and has since grown to over 500 hectares.
The Fraser Valley Regional District and the District of Hope announced Tuesday that everyone who has had to flee their property can return.
Evacuation alerts have also been lifted for residents who had been told to prepare to leave home on short notice.
However, the fire is still active and classified as out of control, which the districts warn could mean renewed orders and alerts in the event of "new ignitions, lightning strikes or a change in prevailing winds." Those heading back home are also advised to check their property for any signs of damage.
Details on properties impacted by the alerts and ordered are available online.
No structures have been damaged but the fire did force a stretch of Highway 1 to close.
UPDATE ON FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS
As of Tuesday morning, the BC Wildfire Service reported 64 firefighters, eight helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment had been deployed to try and contain the blaze. It is suspected to be human caused.
The helicopters continue to bucket the fire, but are working in difficult terrain that is steep and treacherous.
“There’s a lot of rolling debris and then there’s material that’s on fire that’s falling down slope and starting fires further down slope,” explained Hugh Murdoch, an incident commander.
Smoke from the fire, which is believed to be human-caused, continues to choke the skies in the area.
“I’ve got the mask on because of the intense smoke,” said Carole Firth who was travelling through the area Tuesday.
Roy Firth described the smoke as “pretty heavy, hard to see the mountains.”
The intense smoke has led to continued air quality advisories in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
“We’ve been staying indoors, my wife and I because it’s pretty smoky out and it’s hard on our lungs,” said long-time Hope resident Paul Bolton.
In Manning Park, another wildfire is still burning. The Heather Lake fire, sparked in the U.S., is almost 11,000 hectares in size. Six thousand of those hectares are burning in B.C.
“Where we’re seeing most of the growth now is well within the park, not challenging the highway,” Murdoch explained, adding he felt they were making good progess on the fire.
Another massive B.C. wildfire is called aggressive Battleship Mountain, 50 km west of Hudson’s Hope. It’s close to 29,000 hectares in size. Fire crews are using planned ignitions to try and cut off growth. But there is concern about winds and warmer weather.
There are more than 180 wildfires burning in B.C. right now. Five of are considered “of note,” meaning they are highly visible to the public or pose a threat to public safety.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.