UPDATE: As of Sunday, July 30, the Casper Creek wildfire is now burning 3,794 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
"Today, there are 36 BC Wildfire Service ground personnel assigned to the wildfire, including one three-person crew on site for night operations," reads an update on the BCWS website. "There’s also 33 contract crew personnel, five helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the wildfire today. BC Wildfire personnel continue to work in conjunction with local fire crews and community members."
"Ground personnel will be working to secure containment lines and establish hose-lay above Seton Portage today. An additional 20-person BC Wildfire Service unit crew arrived on site yesterday, and will be working near the southwest flank of the fire to secure the fire perimeter. Helicopters will continue bucketing in the north and south flanks, allowing for further implementation of control lines in these areas."
Find the latest on local evacuation orders at slrd.bc.ca.
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Original story from July 27:
The Casper Creek wildfire burning out of control near Anderson Lake has grown to more than 3,400 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
A suspected lightning-caused fire that was discovered July 11 roughly 33 kilometres west of Lillooet, the fire has expanded in recent days from an estimated 2,000 ha. to 3,453 ha. as of this morning.
A fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre told Pique earlier this week the 27 personnel onsite battling the blaze have had to contend with challenging, steep terrain and the fire's unpredictable behaviour.
"It is challenging terrain, very steep in the area, so it does pose a hazard in that way," said Shaelee Stearns on Tuesday, July 25.
A spokesperson for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) said there has been no known damage to structures so far.
At press time, an evacuation order from the SLRD applied to 192 parcels in Electoral Area B, including the entire area of Seton Portage and Tsal’alh, and a portion of Highline Road.
Residents under the evacuation order are asked to register with Emergency Social Services at the Lillooet Rec Centre at 930 Main Street, or by phoning 250-256-8524. An SLRD spokesperson said Tuesday that 207 people have registered so far in Lillooet, while a handful have also registered in Kamloops.
An evacuation alert for the Downton Lake fire, meanwhile, applies to 186 parcels and an estimated 271 people in the Gun lake and Lajoie Lake area, in the SLRD's Electoral Area A.
The public is reminded to sign up for SLRD Alert to receive emergency notifications and updates at slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.
Stay updated on wildfires in B.C. at wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca.
