Kamloops wildfire evacuation order lifted

A shift in wind direction has allowed fire officials in Kamloops, B.C., to lift an evacuation order affecting about 150 residents ofa RV and mobile home park.

Butthepark and several hundred more homes in the surrounding arearemained under an evacuation alert on Wednesday

Fire officials say the Barnhartvale fire is now more than 50 per cent contained, even though it grew to about 50 hectares overnight.

Capt. Sheldon Guertin of the Kamloops fire department said the winds that triggered the evacuation have shifted and no homes are facing an immediate threat.

"Right now the winds are favourable for us and are blowing the fire back on itself, so it's looking good right now," said Guertin.

Firefighters from Kamloops were fighting the fire with crews from the B.C. Forest Service. Guertin was expecting that water bombers would be dispatched on Wednesday morning to help fight the flames.

"Forecasts for this afternoon are for warmer temperatures.We're looking at 30 degrees with 20 per cent relative humidity, but once again we're looking at winds from the southwest so it's allowing the fire to be pushed back on itself," Guertin said.

400 more homes under evacuation alert

The fire broke out in a dry, grassy area just off a busy stretch of road in the southeast area of the Barnhartvale neighbourhood of Kamloops around midnight Tuesday.

The fire spread rapidly overnight as volatile winds fanned the flames, making it difficult for firefighters to contain, and prompting officials to order an evacuation of the area around 3 a.m. PT.

Tammy Campbell, the emergency program co-ordinator for Kamloops, said the evacuation of the Holman Road area went smoothly.

"We saw a number of folks from that area come into the centre. We were able to provide them with accommodation. Others were able to find accommodation with friends and family, and everyone was taken care of in a very expeditious manner," said Campbell.

In addition to the trailer park homes, an evacuation alert remains in placefor residents of 400 other Kamloops homes, including those on the west end of Todd Road, Crawford Court, the Uplands area and the east end of Juniper Ridge.