Overview
- Local authorities upgraded evacuation alerts to a mandatory order for the Village of Clinton and more than 400 surrounding properties after briefings with wildfire officials raised safety concerns on Friday.
- An 8.9-kilometre stretch of Highway 97 was closed between Clinton Cemetery Road and Mound Road to support the evacuation, with a detour routed via Highway 1 and Highway 24.
- The Pear Lake fire has grown to about 44.7 square kilometres and the Fiftynine Creek fire to about 167.2 square kilometres, and crews were pulled back from the Fiftynine Creek front because of dangerous Rank 5 behaviour.
- Evacuees are being directed to a reception centre in Kamloops at McArthur Island Sport and Events Centre and Kamloops Search and Rescue deployed teams to deliver evacuation notices; FortisBC will manage any required gas shutoffs.
- The incident is part of a severe provincial wildfire season with more than 120 active fires and large numbers of properties under order or alert, putting added pressure on firefighting resources and mutual‑aid options.