An evacuation alert remains in place for 13 properties at the base of Apex Mountain near Apex Mountain and Green Mountain roads due to a wildfire in the area.
The blaze was first reported Tuesday afternoon near the Apex Mountain Guest Ranch and has since grown to 186 hectares. As of Thursday morning it was reportedly 50 per cent contained, by the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch.
According to the alert, residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice on Green Mountain Road and head to a reception centre at an as-yet unknown location.
Recreational properties at the Apex Mountain Ski Resort are not affected.
By Thursday morning as many as 50 firefighters, five helicopters and several air tankers were fighting the blaze, according to the branch.
One official predicted it could be at least a week or more before the fire is fully contained however that could change with Environment Canada calling for wet weather in the coming week starting as early as Saturday.
Meanwhile, the evacuation alert for 606 properties in the area of the Jura fire which is burning between Summerland and Princeton also remains in effect at present. It has expanded to 200 hectares and as a result of overnight work by forestry crews a fire guard had been placed around two-thirds of the perimeter.
The situation was scheduled to be reassessed Thursday afternoon.
Homes covered by the alert include:
115 to 131 Augur Road, 112 Bankeir Place, 105 to 136 Country Lane, 120 to 145 Jellico
Road, 4067 to 4131 Lakesyde Road, 150 to 223 Lakeview Road, 113 to 117 Lee CK PL,
102 to 272 Link Lake Road, 4088 to 4116 Meadow Cres, 114 to 126 Muskoka Road, 131
and 143 Osprey Place, 110 to 231 Pinewood Drive, 143 Jellicoe Road, 1556 to 4600
Princeton-Summerland Road, 1364 to 1862 Shinish Creek Road , 118 to 149 Tee Pee Lakes
Place and 186 Trout Main FSR Road.
A third fire in the region named Boot Hill, which is in the Nickleplate area near Apex Mountain Resort, has grown to 136 hectares with no containment. Work is continuing to build a guard around the perimeter. There are no alerts at this time.