The Elephant Hill wildfire's west flank, to the east of the village of Clinton, has proved an ongoing challenge to wildfire suppression efforts over the past week due to sustained hot weather and variable winds.
On Saturday, July 29, 2017, strong and gusty winds sent embers across containment lines and over the Bonaparte River in the northeast and northwest corners. Due to extreme fire behaviour and gusty winds, the fire has moved upslope towards Clinton. All available suppression options (including airtankers, helicopters and structural protection units through the Office of the Fire Commissioner) are currently being used.
On the recommendation of the BC Wildfire Service, the increased fire behaviour prompted the Village of Clinton and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to issue expanded evacuation orders to safeguard life and property.
These evacuation orders include the Village of Clinton and north through Chasm. Evacuated residents are to travel south to Kamloops. For more information and evacuation details, visit:
* Thompson-Nicola Regional District website
* Village of Clintons website:
Highway 97 is closed from 70 Mile House to the junction of Highway 99. For details on road conditions, visit: www.DriveBC.com
Drone footage from TNRD showing the fire damage in the Loon Lake area.
