The White Rock Lake fire burning between Kamloops and Vernon, B.C., has prompted an evacuation alert for most of the city of Vernon, which has a population of around 40,000. "The decision was made out of an abundance of caution based on the advice of BC Wildfire due to increased fire activity & increased ember debris," it said. As of Friday night, the White Rock Lake wildfire was an estimated 550 square kilometres in size. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said earlier Friday that the fire west of Okanagan Lake was the province's highest priority. Aggressive fire behaviour and southwesterly winds, gusting upwards of 40 kilometres an hour, are challenging suppression efforts on the White Rock Lake wildfire, says the B.C.

Source: CBC News August 07, 2021 04:40 UTC