A growing wildfire near a BC mountain station prompted an evacuation order for the town Monday morning.
Burning southwest of Penticton, the Keremeos Creek wildfire was measured at 437 hectares Sunday night. It is classified as out of control.
While 25 properties were placed under evacuation orders over the weekend, an order was issued for hundreds more on Monday, this time in Apex Mountain Village. Those in the area are being told to leave immediately and are hoping the RCMP will help speed up the process.
Dozens of other properties are on evacuation alert.
The fire was discovered on Friday and authorities say it has been a challenge to fight, as much of the fire “is in terrain inoperable for the support of tankers and heavy machinery”.
Local fire departments, including Keremeos, Naramata and Summerland, have dispatched crews and trucks to focus on protecting structures. At least one structure has been destroyed.
Over the weekend, Apex Mountain Resort deployed its snow cannons to spray water on its buildings and infrastructure in an effort to prevent them from catching fire with wind-blown embers.