The B.C. government has issued a travel warning advising residents across the province to avoid visiting the Interior region due to the current wildfire situation.
The Province has issued the travel warning indefinitely until further notice with the expectation that the wildfire situation is expected to get worse over the weekend.
The travel warning includes the communities of Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band, Enderby, and parts of the Regional District North Okanagan.
According to the Province, increased fire activity in the area is forecasted over the weekend, including significant winds that may move fires quickly due to the nature of the terrain.
The government points to the next 72 hours as being a critical period and the Ministry of Public Safety is anticipating more evacuation orders and alerts will be issued in the coming days.
“We’re taking this proactive step because we want to ensure people in these communities are able to evacuate if necessary, access the supports they need, as well as the safety of our firefighters on the ground,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “While we are acting out of an abundance of caution, this situation is very serious and could get worse quickly. If you were planning to travel to the area, now is not the time to do so.”
Thousands of people have already been evacuated from their homes this wildfire season and multiple blazes continue to threaten communities across the region.
The air quality is being impacted as well due to extremely smoky conditions.
Interior Health has also advised that non-essential travel to and from the Central Okanagan should be avoided due to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
The government notes that people who live in the region are not being asked to leave at this time unless they have been issued an evacuation alert.
More information about current wildfires can be found online by clicking here.
Graham Cox
