Hot, dry conditions challenging crews fighting fast-growing Sparks Lake wildfire

KAMLOOPS — NOTE: This story has been updated with new details here.

As evening falls, the Sparks Lake wildfire continues to rage, threatening more homes and putting more people on alert.

There are now 450 properties on alert, in addition to the 27 that have ordered to leave the area.

“There was so much activity on the wildfire growth yesterday, which led to our current orders that are in place, but we’re getting direction from B.C. Wildfire as the fire is moving and the direction that it’s moving,” Public Information Officer for the TNRD’s Emergency Operations Centre Michelle Nordstrom said. “So we’re looking at other areas that it might be spreading closer to where we might have properties that could be impacted.”

Evacuees have been coming to the TNRD’s Emergency Operations Centre since late Tuesday afternoon, but more started to roll in Wednesday.

Gary Giles is one of 27 residences ordered to leave. He’s secured himself accommodations and food for the next couple days while the fire burns closer to his home.

“This is the second time [I’ve been evacuated], and for the same reason,” he said. “But this time here is a little scarier because the fire is very closer to our home, whereas in 2017 it was several kilometres away.”

The fire has exploded to 4,000 hectares in the span of 48 hours. The extreme heat with temperatures in the 40s, as well as wind in the area, have fanned the flames.

The conditions have made it challenging for crews on the ground and in the air. Helicopters used to bucket water on the fire have been inoperable in the heat.

“Our equipment, definitely with the heat, is overheating during the day, so we try to keep it mostly to the morning, but we’re also lowering the weight that it’s carrying, so that it allows us to reach our objectives and support the ground crews,” Fire Information Officer Shaelee Stearns said.

The B.C. Wildfire Service is allocating more resources to the fire to offset the effects of downed helicopters.

“It’s definitely just changing our strategies to meet what the fire is bringing and fighting with the temperatures and the fire activity that we’re seeing,” noted Stearns.

Thunderstorms on Wednesday night into Thursday could bring more challenges to fire crews, especially if it’s accompanied by dry lighting.

However, temperatures are forecast to drop to 26 degrees with rain on Friday — a small break for a fire that isn’t giving crews much of one.