Wildfire near Princeton, B.C., prompts evacuation order for dozens of properties

An out of control wildfire just east of Princeton, B.C. has forced dozens of residents to flee their homes and put dozens of others on evacuation alert, as fire crews continue to fight the blaze.

The August Lake wildfire, burning about 2.3 kilometres east of Princeton's town centre was reported Saturday afternoon and is 0.14 square kilometres in size, according to B.C. Wildfire Service.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) issued an evacuation order for just under 50 properties, including campsites in the area, the Princeton Golf Club and its on-site restaurant, and an evacuation alert for about 60 additional properties in the surrounding area, a mix of residential and agricultural lands.

Under the evacuation order, residents must leave immediately and register at the emergency reception centre at the Princeton and District Arena on Old Hedley Road, says Sean Vaisler, the RDOS manager of emergency services.

Vaisler said the proximity to residential areas make it a priority for crews.

B.C. Wildfire Service says the fire is suspected to be human-caused and is burning in an interface zone, meaning it poses a direct threat to homes and infrastructure.

"We have firefighting crews still on site as well as structure protection specialists and a structure protection unit," said Cassidy Martin, fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Martin said the fire displayed aggressive behaviour through the afternoon, with flames spreading at a moderate rate. But conditions started to improve later in the day.

"Most of the afternoon, crews were seeing rank 3 behaviour," she said, referring to a moderately vigorous surface fire. "However they've already seen a downgrade in that fire behaviour, which is great."

As of Saturday evening, Martin said the fire was exhibiting rank 2 fire behaviour, meaning flames are visible on the surface but spreading slowly.

Two helicopters remain on site to assist ground crews, and additional resources were redirected from a nearby backcountry fire to support efforts in Princeton, due to the immediate threat to homes, she added.

RDOS says the next scheduled update will come Sunday at 10:30 a.m., unless conditions change significantly.