UPDATE: 1:00 p.m.
The Placer Lake wildfire south of Princeton has swelled over three times its last estimated size to cover more than 2,600 hectares.
The most recent update from the BC Wildfire Service said that improved visibility on July 14 allowed for a better track of its size, which had been pegged at 750 hectares the day before.
The fire currently has 23 firefighters, one helicopter and heavy equipment dispatched to it.
Those crews were reporting Rank 2 fire behaviour, with a slow rate of spread, but BCWS said that with a cold front passing through the region they expected elevated winds with high gusts that could increase the activity.
The August Lake wildfire, near Princeton, remains at an estimated 14 hectares in size.
UPDATE: 11:40 a.m.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has downgraded the evacuation order for properties near the August Lake wildfire outside Princeton to an evacuation alert.
The properties near the 14 hectare wildfire that were on order are currently safe to return to, which includes properties south of Highway 3, west to Amber Hill Road and Darcy Mountain Road adjacent to the sewer treatment plant, east to Willies Ranch Road and the Princeton Golf Club and properties on Taylor Mill Drive.
The notice from the RDOS states that an evacuation order may need to be reissued if necessary.
BC Wildfire Service has not officially updated the status of the fire, which is currently listed as out-of-control.
Further south, the Placer Lake wildfire continues to burn, with high winds expected through the region.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Two wildfires, both listed as out of control, are burning near Princeton.
The Placer Creek fire and the August Lake fire were both discovered on July 12.
As of July 14, the Placer Creek fire, south of Princeton and west of Cathedral Provincial Park, has reached 1,000 hectares and is burning into the area of the 2021 blaze, according to the Lower Similkameen Indian Band.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, due to a passing cold front, winds with gusts of up to 40 to 60 km/h are expected during the day which could increase fire activity.
A smoke cloud from the fire has been spotted over the community at Ashnola Village and the surrounding area. The LSIB said members of the community in Chopaka, Keremeos and Cawston have reported ash falling to the ground.
The August Lake wildfire, east of Princeton, had an area of 14 hectares as of the most recent estimate late on July 13.
Late in the evening of July 13, Sandra Lawlor of Princeton said the August Lake fire is in the hills behind the golf course, near August Lake Road.
She said the Erris Volunteer Fire Association has deployed tenders, people and structure protection units. She added that the fire is moving down the hill and towards a residential area.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation order in the area. The wildfire is a threat to life and safety, a note from the regional district says.
