Evacuation order, alert expanded for Ross Moore Lake wildfire

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has expanded its evacuation order for the Ross Moore Lake wildfire to approximately 344 properties up from 49 properties yesterday.

It has also enlarged the area now under evacuation alert to the east, west and south.

The expanded evacuation order was issued by the TNRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, because of the potential danger to life and safety due to the wildfire.

An evacuation order is now in effect for approximately 344 addressed properties in the following areas of Electoral Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) and Electoral Area “L” (Grasslands):

• Lac Le Jeune area;
• Long Lake Road and adjoining roads south of the intersection with Goose Lake Road;
• Areas south of Goose Lake Road, including Edith Lake Road;
• All areas west of Highway 5A from Napier Lake to just south of the Knutsford Campground; and
• all areas highlighted red in the attached map.

People within the evacuation order area must leave immediately, and are advised to evacuate north to Kamloops. To receive Emergency Support Services, self-register using the Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA) tool: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/, or report to the Reception Centre, located at 1655 Island Pkwy. on McArthur Island in Kamloops.

Evacuees should make arrangements to stay with family or friends if possible, gather family and take a neighbour or someone who needs help. Take pets in kennels or on a leash. and take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, keys) only if they are immediately available.

Emergency Support Services will only be provided if your primary residence is under evacuation order. For more information and to access the interactive Emergency Map, visit: tnrd.ca/emergency.

The evacuation order now covers the majority of the area that was previously under alert yesterday.

An evacuation alert from the TNRD EOC, meanwhile, was expanded Sunday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. as well due to the Ross Moore Lake wildfire, covering approximately 157 properties in the following areas:

• The areas South of Kamloops;
• East of Highway 5;
• North of Stump Lake;
• West of Roche Lake; and
• as outlined in the attached map.

This evacuation alert is in place to prepare residents to evacuate their premises or property should it be found necessary. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to an evacuation order, but people may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.

The City of Kamloops still has an evacuation alert in place for all of Knutsford as well.

The Ross Moore Lake wildfire was measured at 1,800 hectares in size as of Sunday morning and has been spreading northeast from its source of ignition. It was last mapped at 13 kilometres away from Kamloops on Saturday evening, up from 24km.

The lightning-caused wildfire is highly visible from Kamloops and remains burning out of control.