Evacuation alert lifted for Monte Lake wildfire

After nearly three weeks, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has rescinded the evacuation alert for the Monte Lake wildfire.

The alert was originally issued on July 26, and includedareas of Highway 97,Kristianson Road, Paxton Valley Road,Strong Road,and Westlund Road.

The Monte Lake wildfire started as a grass fire on the side of Highway 97 and eventually grew to 150 hectares in size, destroying one home.

As of yesterday, wildfire service spokesman Kevin Skrepnek said 162 wildfires were burning in B.C.

Since April 1, over one thousand blazes have scorched 7,290 square kilometres of timber, bush and grassland across the province.

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With files from the Canadian Press