Vancouver Rundown Monday July 24, 2023

Summary

Hundreds more properties have fallen under an evacuation order as the Ross Moore Lake wildfire, between Kamloops and Merritt, continues to grow. Shifting winds and extremely dry brush are the main issues. As of Sunday evening, the fire’s size was about 2,000 hectares. Vancouver Rundown was able to capture some dramatic photos including a trio of planes from Montana-based Bridger Aerospace as expert pilots scooped water from nearby Stump Lake.

The Ross Moore Lake wildfire grew to almost 2,000 hectares Sunday, about a dozen kilometres south of the southern edge of Kamloops. PHOTO: Bruce Claggett

Expert pilots from Montana-based Bridger Aerospace scoop water from Stump Lake to fight a large and growing wildfire south of Kamloops. PHOTO: Bruce Claggett

B.C. Wildfire gets support from Montana-based pilots (VIDEO: Bruce Claggett)

Meanwhile, B.C.’s wildfire threat has clearly moved south with more international firefighters coming to the province to help out. Close to 700 properties remain on evacuation alert, 51 others have been ordered to evacuate, as a large fire burns just north of Cranbrook. Closer to the coast, almost 200 properties are under an evacuation order because of the Casper Creek wildfire in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. And crews from the City of Mission Fire Department were out in force for most of Sunday, helping forestry teams fight a blaze near Cannell Lake.

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