A new wildfire in central B.C. has triggered an evacuation order for the northeast corner of the District of Wells.
District officials say the Cornish Mountain wildfire is a threat to life and safety, and residents affected by the order must leave immediately.
The affected areas include the Eight-Mile Lake and Nine-Mile Lake areas, Cornish Lake and Mine Sites.
An evacuation alert remains in effect for the rest of the district.
The blaze was discovered Wednesday and is currently burning 70 hectares of woodland. Early indications suggest it was sparked by lightning.
“It’s very close to the town and that’s the biggest concern,” said District of Wells Mayor Ed Coleman in an interview.
The province is currently dealing with 146 wildfires, with two considered wildfires of note.
Parts of B.C. also continue to experience a prolonged heat wave, with heat warnings still in effect in the southern Interior. The weather is expected to cool in that region after Thursday.
Environment Canada said 17 daily heat records were set or tied in the province Wednesday. At 40.5 C, the village of Warfield in the West Kootenay region was the hottest place in Canada on Wednesday.