A wildfire near the B.C. community of Christina Lake forced dozens of properties to be evacuated on Sunday afternoon.
The Spaulding Creek Wildfire also affected a portion of Highway 3 when downed power lines caused by the fire initially closed a portion of the highway. It reopened to single lane alternating traffic in the evening.
The affected properties were in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary. The unincorporated town of Christina Lake, population 1,329, is about 20 kilometres east of Grand Forks, B.C.
Forty-two homes were evacuated around Brown Road, Kensington Road, and Caitlin Road, which was estimated to affect about 84 people. Another 208 residences were put on evacuation alert.
But a few hours later, the orders were rescinded and people were told they could return home. The evacuation alerts also ended, and the district cancelled its state of emergency.
Officials first got reports of the wildfire, which affected trees and wildland brush, around 2:30 p.m. The local fire department attended the scene, as did B.C. Wildfire crews.
According to B.C. Wildfire Service, the fire was discovered on Sunday, and the cause is under investigation.
At about 4:30 p.m., the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary enacted a state of emergency and firefighters and RCMP officers began going door-to-door, telling people to leave, said Mark Stephens, manager of emergency programs for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.
This is often called a “tactical evacuation,” he added.
“We’re grateful for everyone being cognizant of that and listening to responders,” he added, noting that the evacuation had gone smoothly.