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Update: The Evacuation Order was partially lifted Saturday evening. Details here.
Original Story:
Traffic is now allowed to go through Highway 33 again after it was closed Friday for the 80-hectare fire in Joe Rich.
Highway 33 is open to single-lane alternating traffic in the area, but speed limit is reduced to 60 km/h. Through traffic is still recommended to use an alternate route via Highway 3 and Highway 97. Watch for and yield to any emergency vehicles, and you can check current highway information on DriveBC’s website.
Smoke billowing from the Huckleberry Fire in Joe Rich. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
RCMP and traffic control still have road blocks in place at Goudie Road and Cardinal Creek Road. These road blocks are to prevent access into the area that’s still under Evacuation Order, affecting about 142 properties. Only local traffic is being allowed onto properties within areas under Evacuation Alert along Cardinal Creek and Sun Valley Roads.
Firefighters reported good progress overnight on the Huckleberry Fire, and the fire has retardant around 75 per cent of its perimeter. The blaze is still zero per cent contained with rank 1 and rank 2 fire behaviour. BC Wildfire Service says 60 firefighters and two helicopters are on site Saturday, and air support may be used to meet fire suppression objectives.
Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com
The Evacuation Orders and Alerts are still in effect, and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
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