Evacuation ordered for Murray Lake fire

UPDATE — As of noon today (Thursday), the Maka-Murray fire south of Merritt has grown to 400 hectare, says the Wildfire Management Branch.

Firefighters have been assigned to the fire with helicopter support.

NEWS/ WILDFIRES — A state of local emergency was declared and an evacuation order issued Wednesday night for residents of Murray Lake south of Merritt.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District made the declaration and order just before 10 p.m. due to the potential threat to life and health from the Maka-Murray wildfire.

The area under evacuation order covers all properties adjacent to Murray Lake, which lies in electoral area N (Beautiful Nicola Valley-South) near the old Coquihalla toll booth about halfway between Merritt and Hope.

The wildfire, discovered Monday, had grown to 250 hectares at the time of the evacuation order Wednesday night. Thirty to 35 properties are affected by the order.

Twenty firefighters, two helicopters and three pieces of equipment are working on the fire. The ground crew had been pulled from the fire scene Tuesday due to safety concerns as the fire became aggressive but they returned Wednesday.

Residents in the area under the evacuation order were required to leave the area immediately.

A new fire, the Jura fire, was discovered southeast of Missezula Lake in the Similkameen area Wednesday. It had grown to 35 hectares by 10 p.m. and the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen issued an evacuation alert.

See earlier story, More Help On Way to B.C. Wildfires,  for overview of B.C.’s wildfires up to early evening Wednesday.