Latest on Mill Fire, Photos

Written by Peter McIntyre Sunday, 11 July 2010 22:07 107.5 KISSFM

A fire at the Tolko sawmill in Spallumcheen led to a long day---and night--- for local fire crews and for hundreds of residents. Close to 200 homes were evacuated Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out in the sawdust and bark hog pile which was fanned by the winds and spread to the log pile. Tolko crews were unable to contain it and several fire crews and the BC Forest Service were called in and worked it through the day and night. Emergency Program coordinator Brent Watson says the blaze was contained to the mill site and there was no direct fire threat to the surrounding homes. "We've issued an evacuation order for the five mobile home parks around the mill simply as a public health safety issue. The smoke is quite thick and we want to make sure the residents are not being impacted in an adverse way by that smoke." Nearby Valley Auction may have had some fire damage but the extent isn't known.

Spallumcheen mayor Will Hansma enacted a state of local emergency, calling on evacuees to report to the Centennial Hall in Armstrong. "It means they are under a caution and they need to the report to the emergency centre and make sure everyone is accounted for as a precaution." Hansma hopes the order can be lifted sometime on Monday. "The fire itself, they're managing it really well. The crews are doing an unbelievable job." Crews from Armstrong-Spallumcheen, Vernon, Enderby and BX Swan Lake were involved along with air crews from the Forest Service. Hansma was near the fire scene all afternoon and into the night. "It's just one great big massive fire (as of 9pm). The log yard is on fire behind the office. It's all fire, everything is burning. It's going like crazy here." No word on the cause yet, but the Forest Service says human activity is suspected.

Tolko's Rob Fraser says a number of log piles have been lost and others continue to burn but there were no injuries and no structures appear to be damaged. Highway 97A was closed down soon after the fire, causing major traffic delays for people trying to get to and from Armstrong and Kamloops.

Top photo: Police block Highway 97A as a fire rages at Tolko mill

Bottom: Water bombing plane attacks the Tolko fire (P.McIntyre)